TEWKSBURY — When police responded to a report of a possible drunk driver last weekend, they found more than an intoxicated driver.
An unlicensed, semi-automatic rifle was sitting in his back seat. The driver has apparently not had an active gun license for more than 20 years.
Ronald Charette, 66, of Dracut, was arrested on Saturday and charged with operating under the influence of liquor, as well as carrying a firearm without a license, improper storage of a firearm and possession of a large capacity magazine.
Charette was arraigned in Lowell District Court Monday and held, with his pretrial hearing scheduled for Tuesday and continued. On the condition of his release, Charette was ordered to refrain from possession of firearms, rifles and other “dangerous weapons,” according to court documents.
Around 3:35 p.m., Tewksbury Police received notice of a “possibly intoxicated man” in a black Ford F350 pickup truck near 1788 Main St. in Tewksbury, according to a press release. The driver, identified as Charette, was found in a parking lot by the Balance Spa, where officers determined he was driving under the influence of alcohol. Charette was then taken into custody.
But when officers conducted “a subsequent inventory search” of his truck, they found a semi-automatic rifle, unsecured, in his back seat. That led officers to file additional charges against Charette, and they secured the weapon.
Patrol Paul Nicosia arrived on scene to find Charette exiting the neighboring Al Fresca Ristorante with food, according to a written summary. Charette admitted to having driven there and said he had consumed “four or five drinks,” the summary states, and when issued a preliminary breath test, Charette had a BAC of 0.155.
After failing to perform several field sobriety tests, smelling of alcohol and displaying physical signs of intoxication — including “red, bloodshot and glassy eyes” — Charette was issued an OUI, Nicosia reported.
Two other officers, while performing the vehicle inventory, found the firearm and magazine and learned Charette no longer had an active license, despite having four previous ones, the most recent one being in 2001, according to police.
It was also revealed Charette was convicted in Lowell of assault and battery in 1997, which means he’s legally unable to carry. Charette supposedly told an officer during booking he was unaware the gun was there, claiming it was his son’s, according to police.
While in custody, Charette refused to submit to a chemical test. His license will be suspended for 180 days.
If guilty of all four charges, Charette could face up to 19 years in prison, according to court documents. His alleged possession of a large capacity carries the heaviest penalty, where he’d have to serve at least two-and-a-half years.
