Lansford woman given prison term for having loaded handgun

A Lansford woman was sentenced to a county prison term Thursday morning after admitting she was in possession of a loaded handgun without a license to carry one.

Megan Lynn Brown, 29, pleaded guilty before Judge Steven R. Serfass to one count of a firearm not to be carried without a license.

On Dec. 17, 2018, at 12:11 a.m., Summit Hill police stopped a gold Toyota Avalon westbound on Route 902 for an equipment violation.

The driver was identified as Corey Scott Moody, 42, of Orefield, Lehigh County. A check revealed that his license was under suspension. Brown was a passenger in the vehicle.

Police said they detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle while speaking with the two occupants.

A search of the vehicle revealed suspected marijuana that was rolled in a “Piff” cigar paper tucked into the passenger side door.

Police also discovered a “Diamond Back” .380 handgun inside Brown’s purse and a prescription bottle with the label removed that contained 10 pills that were later identified as clonazepam.

As a result of the investigation, Moody was charged with possession of a small amount marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and motor vehicle code violations of driving under suspension and general lighting requirements.

On Feb. 11, Moody pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension with all other charges dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

He was placed on probation for six months on the drug count and ordered to pay a fine of $200 on the suspension charge. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Brown was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, altering/removal of label (pills), possession of a controlled substance (clonazepam) and permitting an unauthorized person to drive, as the Toyota was registered to her. All the drug counts were dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

Serfass said the charge “is a serious offense” and required incarceration.

He sentenced Brown to serve two to one day less 24 months in prison, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and render a total of 100 hours of community service.

She will be allowed to serve the prison term on consecutive two-day increments beginning at 9 a.m. on May 5.