Man facing weapons, endangering the welfare of a child, other charges following domestic violence incident in Warren County
BLAIRSTOWN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – A Blairstown Township man is facing weapons, endangering the welfare of a child, other charges following domestic violence incident last week in Warren County, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Jan. 16, police responded to a call for a domestic violence incident in progress at 99 Mohican Road in Blairstown Township, authorities said.
As a result of the subsequent investigation, William Pollard, 53, was charged with acts of assault related to domestic violence. Consequently, the victim obtained a Temporary Restraining Order which was served on Pollard, the prosecutor’s office said.
Because the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order requires the surrender of any firearms in the possession of the subject of that order, law enforcement removed numerous weapons from Pollard’s residence, including several illegal firearms, jigs for modifying firearms, extended magazines, and firearms suppressors, or “silencers,” authorities said.
As a result of these discoveries, a search warrant was executed on the residence. The search revealed additional, unlawful weapons, tools for manufacturing or modifying firearms – including the means to create automatic, or, “machine guns”, weapons without serial numbers or “ghost guns”, and firearms suppressors – both homemade and purchased, the prosecutor’s office said.
Law enforcement recovered 8 illegal rifles; each of which either contained a collapsible stock and is therefore an “assault rifle”, was capable of automatic fire, or was a “ghost gun” without a serial number. In addition, 4 “ghost” handguns were recovered, 49 high capacity magazines, 5 suppressors, 5 jigs for modifying firearms, and 2 “Auto Sears”, which is a device designed to allow an otherwise semi-automatic rifle to fire automatically, authorities said.
Two of these weapons were found underneath the desk of a child living in the residence, the prosecutors office said.
It is also alleged that at some point during the initial investigation, Pollard contacted a neighbor and asked that he remove firearms from the residence, authorities said.
Pollard was charged with third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree criminal restraint, third-degree terroristic threats, seven counts of second-degree possession of an assault weapon, four counts of second-degree possession of a machine gun, seven counts of third-degree possession of a weapon without a serial number, third-degree possession of a short barrel rifle, nine counts of fourth-degree manufacturing a firearm, fourth-degree possession of an extended firearm magazine, fourth-degree possession of a firearm suppressor, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree hindering apprehension of prosecution.
Federal charges are also expected to be forthcoming, the prosecutor’s office said.
Pollard was lodged in the Warren County Jail.
The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, the Blairstown Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms participated in the investigation.
