Story by Reporter Eloize
Dashon Ross, 35, of Newark, NJ, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of a handgun and possession of drugs.
On February 25, 2016, Ross was wanted by police for discarding a loaded 9mm handgun inside a bodega in Newark. Ross was located the following day and attempted arrest. He was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit.
Ross was in possession of 27 wax folds of heroin at the time of his arrest, and was convicted of possession of heroin and resisted arrest by fleeing. The remaining counts Ross was convicted of were unlawful possession of a handgun, tampering with physical evidence, and being a convicted felon with a weapon.
Assistant Prosecutor Donato D’Angelo tried both cases and urged the judge to impose an extended term of imprisonment because of Ross’s extensive criminal record. Ross had prior felony convictions including unlawful possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, possession of narcotics in a school zone, and multiple counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute.
“This sentence sends a strong message to those engaging in this type of conduct that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Assistant Prosecutor D’Angelo, who tried the case on behalf of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
