A Sparks man facing a firearms charge after Lincoln County deputies served a search warrant where he was residing and guns and ammunition were seized has pleaded innocent to the count.
Gene Austin McCuan, Jr., 54, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on April 9, 2024 with possession of firearm after former felony conviction.
A $7,500 bench warrant was issued for his arrest at the time charges were filed. Court records show the bench warrant was returned and filed on April 23 and he made his initial appearance on May 2 before Special Judge Emily Mueller.
On Sep. 27, he waived his preliminary hearing.
Appearing before District Judge Sarah Bridge for his arraignment, McCuan pleaded innocent. The judge set his case for the felony disposition docket on Dec 17.
McCuan is accused on about March 19, 2024, of possessing a semi-automatic handgun located in his bedroom after he had been convicted in Oklahoma County District Court on Aug. 17, 2009 of possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
A Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff/ Investigator stated in a probable cause affidavit that on March 19 of this year he authored and was granted a search warrant for property located on E. 990 Road based on evidence from a previous search warrant.
He said the primary focus of the search warrant at that property was to locate and seize firearms on the property due to the resident, McCuan, being a convicted felon.
He related in the affidavit that at 12:30 on that date he executed the search warrant with the assistance of other members of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. He said McCuan was inside the residence along with his parents and all of them were notified of the search warrant for the property.
All of them were held outside of the residence by the patrol vehicles, he said.
Inside the residence, in one of the bedrooms the investigator stated, officers located one Beretta 9mm semi automatic handgun, a VTS semi-automatic shotgun, a Stevens Arms 22-410 rifle/shotgun, a Ted Williams 12 gauge shotgun, and a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun along with a large amount of ammunition in a tote.
In another bedroom officers reportedly discovered one H&R, Inc., .22 caliber long revolver along with a Mossberg .410 gauge shotgun. In the main living room of the residence, the investigator said a Forehand Arms. Co. 10 gauge shotgun was located.
He stated that all firearms and ammunition located were seized and secured in a patrol vehicle. They were later documented, photographed and packaged.
He said McCuan claimed he had multiple medical conditions that required oxygen and McCuan informed him he was the caregiver for his parents.
The investigator said he informed McCuan he would be filing an affidavit for an arrest warrant on him to allow McCuan time to find proper care for his parents.