Loaded Gun in Courthouse: Attorney Arrested

CLEARWATER, FL — An attorney from Redington Beach faces criminal charges after Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies say he brought a loaded gun into the Pinellas County Justice Center.

According to the sheriff’s office, James Franklin Lowy, 49, went through the public entrance to the 14250 49th St. N. center in Clearwater around 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15.

“Lowy proceeded to the security screening area near the entrance of the courthouse and placed his belongings onto a tray to be checked by the X-ray machine,” an email from the sheriff’s office said. “While monitoring the X-ray machine, Sheriff's Office staff identified the outline of a handgun and a magazine containing ammunition in Lowy's backpack.”

When deputies searched Lowy’s backpack, they found a loaded Ruger .45 with a bullet in the chamber and a fully loaded magazine, the email said. A second fully loaded magazine was also found in the backpack.

Lowy told deputies the handgun was his and said he was at the courthouse to attend a disbarment hearing, the email noted. Lowy does not have a concealed weapon permit, the sheriff’s office said.

Lowy was subsequently arrested on one count of carrying a concealed firearm. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Thursday. He remained there Thursday evening in lieu of $10,000 bond, jail records indicate.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office