ELIZABETH -- An Elizabeth man with multiple prior convictions has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after police found him sleeping in a car with two loaded guns in his lap and his fingers on the triggers, authorities said.
Guilio Mesadieu, 35, has to serve at least six years of that term before being eligible for parole, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park said.
Three cars were parked on the 600 block of Salem Avenue at about 1:20 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2014, and loud music was coming from one of them, Park said. Police officers who approached that car found Mesadieu sleeping in the driver's seat with the guns, Park said.
Mesadieu was arrested and held on $175,000 bail. Authorities later discovered that the guns were loaded, Park said.
Mesadieu was indicted in April 2015 and found guilty of a second-degree weapons charge after a three-week trial in December 2016.
State Superior Court Judge Regina Caulfield granted prosecutors' motion for an extended prison term under the persistent offender statute because Mesadieu had six prior convictions.
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