Convicted Felon Found In Southington With Gun, High-Capacity Magazine

By Justin Muszynski, The Bristol Press

July 5, 2022

A convicted felon was found over the holiday weekend with a handgun equipped with an illegal large-capacity magazine, police allege.

Police on Tuesday said Marquis Dasilva, 24, of Waterbury, had the gun on the driver seat of a vehicle that had a stolen license plate on it, in a parking lot at 129 Center St. on Saturday, around 1 a.m.

The Taurus 9mm handgun, which police said was in a 2002 Honda Accord of which Dasilva claimed ownership, was equipped with a loaded magazine that holds 17 rounds. In Connecticut, any magazine that holds over 10 rounds is considered high capacity.

Additionally, police said, Dasilva was not supposed to be in possession of a handgun because he is a convicted felon and does not have a valid pistol permit.

Police said a sergeant was alerted to the Accord being affixed with a stolen license plate, which led to the arrest. As the sergeant was speaking to a female passenger – who police did not indicate was charged – Dasilva approached the vehicle and said it was his. As he was retrieving his license and other motor vehicle paperwork, the police officer noticed the gun on the driver side seat.

Police also found the vehicle was unregistered and uninsured.

Dasilva faces charges of illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a firearm, second-degree reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a large-capacity magazine, theft of a marker plate, no insurance and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

The 24-year-old was initially held on $100,000 bond before he posted bail sometime over the weekend. He is expected to be arraigned July 15 in New Britain Superior Court.

Justin Muszynski can be reached at 860-973-1809 or jmuszynski@bristolpress.com.