MANTOLOKING – A Toms River man who was found wearing body armor and carrying weapons is now facing a federal charge because, as a sex offender, he is not allowed to own guns.
Jeremy W. Barringer, 46, of Toms River was arrested on October 24 at around 3 a.m. Mantoloking police found him in his vehicle, involved in a single-car crash. He had several weapons, hollow-point ammunition, and a bulletproof vest.
On November 16, acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced that Barringer was charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was taken into federal custody.
According to the federal report, Barringer was behind the wheel. Officers saw a 5.56-millimeter semi-automatic rifle on the floorboard of the back seat. The rifle was later found to be loaded with approximately 21 rounds of 5.56-millimeter full metal jacket ammunition. When officers ordered him to step out of the vehicle, they saw he was wearing a tactical, bulletproof vest and an empty handgun holster on his hip.
After taking him into custody, they searched his vehicle and found a black 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol with no serial number (commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”), loaded with 14 rounds of hollow-point ammunition; three 9-millimeter pistol magazines loaded with hollow-point ammunition, and three 30-round rifle magazines loaded with 5.56-millimeter ammunition.
The count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Honig credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr.; officers of the Mantoloking Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Stacy S. Ferris; and officers of the Bay Head Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police William A. Hoffman, with the investigation. She also thanked detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, officers from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy, and officers from the Toms River Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Mitchell A. Little, for their assistance.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
