Two charged with unregistered gun after neither claims ownership

Walt M. Damminger

Valentina M. Centra

GUILDERLAND — Two people were arrested on gun and drug possession charges after a routine traffic stop on Western Avenue.

On April 2, at Western Avenue and Schoolhouse Road in Guilderland, police pulled over a car driven by Walt M. Daminger, 28, of 553 Higley Road in Wilmington, Vt. The car was weaving between lanes with the driver tapping its brakes, according to the arrest report filed by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

Police saw a partially burnt marijuana cigarette on the passenger seat, and others in the vehicle’s ashtray, the report says. A check of Daminger’s license showed he was suspended in New York for failure to pay a fine in Saugerties in 2009, the report says.

The passenger was Valentina M. Centra, 31, of 37 Ontario Street in Albany. Police learned Centra had a suspended New York I.D., according to the arrest report.

Daminger was placed into custody and his vehicle was searched, which revealed quantities of marijuana and hashish, boxes of nine-millimeter ammunition, and a semi-automatic handgun with 15 rounds in its magazine in the center armrest, the report says.

Both subjects were placed into custody and transported to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Building in Clarksville, said the release.

“There was a gun that was not registered in New York State, and neither person wanted to own up to the gun, so they both got charged,” said Apple.

Daminger was charged with two felonies: second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation; and three infractions — moving from a lane unsafely, a vehicle equipment violation, and driving while using a portable electronic device.

Centra was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony; third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony; and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

Daminger and Centra were arraigned in the Guilderland Town Court by Judge Richard Sherwood, and sent to Albany County’s jail in lieu of bail. Bail was set at $30,000 for Daminger and $25,000 for Centra, the release said.

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