GUILDERLAND — Thomas McLaughlin was sentenced to three years in state prison on Tuesday in Albany County Court by Judge Stephen Herrick.

McLaughlin, 39, of Albany, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, on March 25, according to a release from the Albany County District Attorney’s office.

He was arrested on March 31, 2014, during a motel drug bust on Western Avenue.

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office was watching the Western Motel for more than three months after receiving a tip about suspicious activity.

When Sheriff Craig Apple was ready to go in with a search warrant, McLaughlin was observed entering the motel’s office, carrying a backpack, and looking for the motel’s manager, Apple told The Enterprise earlier. McLaughlin told deputies he was there to fix the plumbing, but a search of his backpack showed he was carrying two pounds of marijuana and a loaded .40-caliber handgun.

A check showed he was a convicted felon and had a revoked pistol permit; deputies searched his home and found more than nine pounds of marijuana; nine-and-a-half ounces of powdered cocaine; six-and-a-half grams of MDMA, often known as ecstasy; a small quantity of hash, concentrated cannabis; several Xanax pills; and three Glock semi-automatic handguns.

McLaughlin was one of five people arrested on drug and weapons charges that day.

His three years in state prison will be followed by five years of post-release supervision, said the release.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Steven Sharp of the Street Crimes Unit. 

— Anne Hayden Harwood