Press Releases
05/24/2024
Judge Sentences Waterbury Man Convicted of Criminal Possession of a Firearm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(New Haven, CT) – New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. today announced that Joseph Stokes, age 25, of Waterbury, was sentenced on May 23, 2024, by the Honorable Peter L. Brown to eight years in prison for the crime of Criminal Possession of a Firearm in violation of Connecticut General Statutes 53a-217(a)(1). The sentence came after a trial in which the defendant waived his right to a jury trial and asked Judge Brown to determine whether he was guilty or not guilty of the crime charged.
The total effective sentence announced by Judge Brown was 10 years in prison suspended after eight years served, followed by five years of probation. Ten years is the maximum prison sentence the defendant could have received. In announcing the sentence, the court stated that there was good cause to extend the period of probation to five years, the maximum period authorized by law. The court also indicated that two of the eight years of incarceration are mandatory, pursuant to statute.
According to court records, on January 17, 2019, the defendant was in possession of a firearm at a residence in Meriden. At that time, the defendant had previously been convicted of a criminal offense that precluded him from possessing a firearm. Despite that prohibition, the defendant brought a loaded firearm to the residence and then discharged the gun several times.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Brown referenced the negative effects illegal firearms have in Connecticut’s communities and stated that the defendant’s latest conviction was his fourth criminal conviction for a firearm-related offense.
State’s Attorney Doyle would like to extend his gratitude to the Meriden Police Department for their investigative efforts. The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Seth R. Garbarsky and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alexander C. Beck, who were assisted by Inspector Michael Mastropetre.