Man Faces Firearm Felony After Calling Police About Theft

A Mentor man had his guns confiscated and faces a felony after he called police for help.

David Laurenty, 28, called police Tuesday, saying that someone had stolen from him and his housemate.

When officers arrived at Laurenty's house, they found 13 guns -- five handguns and eight shotguns and rifles. However, Laurenty is not allowed to own firearms because he was convicted of a misdemeanor case of drug abuse in 2007, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien.

According to Ohio law, a person cannot own a gun if they've been convicted of drug abuse, even if it's only a misdemeanor, unless a judge approves it, Zbiegien said.

Laurenty admitted the guns were his.

"He didn't know he couldn't possess them," Zbiegien said.

Police arrested him and charged him with a felony county of possessing weapons under a disability. In this case, the "disability" is Laurenty's previous conviction.

Laurenty was arraigned this morning in Mentor Municipal Court. Judge John Trebets set Laurenty's bond at 10 percent of $60,000, which Laurenty did not post.

If convicted, Laurenty could face between one and five years in prison.