District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that 37 year-old Jerome C. Hearn pleaded guilty, as charged, to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. This is the highest charge for which the defendant could have been convicted had he gone to trial.

Hearn, a prior felon from the state of Georgia, had recently moved to the Buffalo area and took up residence with his local girlfriend. On March 21, 2012 the defendant and his girlfriend became embroiled in an argument which caused her call to call the police and request that they remove Hearn from her home.  Upon entry, the police discovered a loaded pistol by Hearn’s side.

The defendant has been incarcerated since his arrest on March 21, 2012.  While in custody, Hearn has attempted to dissuade his girlfriend, by both letters and telephone calls, from testifying. Hearn has also been repeatedly disciplined for fighting with other prisoners. 

Hearn faces up to 15 years in state prison when he is sentenced before the Honorable Deborah A. Haendiges on March 12, 2013.