COOPERATIVE SUSPECT PLEADS GUILTY TO GUN, DRUG CHARGES March 4, 2008 A 37-year-old Dorchester man who was scheduled to appear in Gun Court this week for a pre-trial hearing instead pleaded guilty to drug and weapons charges and was sentenced to a year and a half behind bars, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced. CHARLES J. FINNIN (D.O.B. 12/13/69) yesterday pleaded guilty to one count each of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of marijuana. Boston Municipal Court Judge Paul K. Leary imposed the sentence recommended by Assistant District Attorney Edward J. Curley, ordering Finnin to serve 18 months in the House of Correction for the gun possession charge, a concurrent six months for the marijuana possession charge, and two years of probation for the ammunition charge, to begin upon completion of his jail term. As terms of his probation, Finnin must stay away from the Garner Road area of Dorchester, remain drug free and submit to random drug screens, obtain and maintain employment, and stay away from his former co-defendant, EDWIN LOPEZ, 30 (D.O.B. 12/2/77). “This defendant chose to unlawfully arm himself with a gun, and the result is that he will now serve time behind bars,” Conley said. “Once again, the message is loud and clear: if you unlawfully carry a firearm, you’re going to do time.” Had the case proceeded to trial, prosecutors assigned to the Firearms Priority Disposition Sessions would have introduced evidence and testimony proving that Boston Police officers went to a Garner Road residence last year to serve a warrant for Lopez’ arrest. The officers were allowed inside, where they found Lopez and took him into custody. While inside the residence, the officers detected a strong odor of marijuana in the hallways. They followed that odor to Finnin’s bedroom and questioned him, asking if there was anything in the room they should know about. “Yes,” Finnin said. “There is a weapon and a joint under the mattress.” When the officer asked for his consent to search, Finnin gave him permission. “Yes, you can check,” he said, adding that there was ammunition in the top drawer of his nightstand. Under the mattress, the officers found a marijuana cigarette and an O.F. Mossberg & Sons .22 rifle loaded with five live rounds in the magazine and one spent shell in the chamber. In the nightstand, they recovered an additional 70 rounds of ammunition in a case. Following his statements to police, Finnin signed an electronic interview and consent-to-search form. Lopez pleaded guilty to drug possession charges in June. Finnin was represented by attorney David R. Hagemeyer. Return to the Press Releases page.