Mother goes free after son admits to gun possession

By ARTESIA DAVIS, Guardian Senior Reporter, artesia@nasguard.com -



A prosecutor withdrew gun possession charges against a woman after her son owned up to the items.

Police arrested Clara Smith, 51, and her son, Brian Riley, 30, after they found two shortened shotguns and 13 shells inside their home on Washington Street on December 21, 2007.

Riley pleaded guilty to the charge after his mother spent the Christmas holiday in prison because her bail had not been signed in time.

The guns were found inside Riley's bedroom. Riley, an auto detailer, told the court that a friend called him and asked to store the guns at his house. Riley said he told the friend he was not home but he met the guns in his room when he returned. Riley's account of how the guns got in the house varied from when he was arraigned on December 24.

And he denied knowing the guns were in the house during an interview with probation officer Lisa Bowleg.

Magistrate Carolita Bethel said, "You have a difficulty telling the truth. From what you've told the probation officer, you seem to blame everyone for your misfortunes. You need to grow up. You're 30 years old."

Magistrate Bethel sentenced Riley to 30 months in prison and dismissed the charges against his mother.