Billy club could send Atlantic City, NJ, man to jail for 9 years

A senior citizen from Atlantic City could be spending the next several years behind bars on weapon and drug charges.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office says on Wednesday, 69-year-old Earnest Carroll pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of second-degree manufacturing/distributing cocaine.

His plea agreement calls for an aggregate sentence of nine years in state prison.

Authorities say on November 19th, 2022, Absecon police conducted a motor vehicle stop on a car driven by Carroll. During the stop, officers noticed a homemade "Billy" club next to the driver's seat. A search of the vehicle resulted in other contraband, including additional weapons, controlled dangerous substances, and drug paraphernalia being located.