Mother and Daughter Freed of Firearm Charges…
Margaret Vasquez
Margaret Vasquez, her daughter, Kimberly Betran and son-in-law, Martin Matura were before the court late this afternoon to answer to the charges of Kept Unlicensed Firearm and Ammunition without a Gun License. It follows the discovery at their house on Unity Street of a point thirty eight revolver loaded with three live rounds of ammunition. Only Vasquez and her daughter were at home at the time of the discovery but minutes later Matura visited the police station and claimed that the gun was his. The police, however, levied charges against the three family members and after spending two nights in police lock down at the Racoon Street Police Station, all three were escorted to the Magistrate’s Court where they appeared before Senior Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. Matura pleaded guilty to all charges explaining to the court that he found the gun in a drain and hid it under the house of his in-law without her knowledge. The search was conducted with the assistance of a K-nine dog, which detected the firearm and ammunition. Vasquez and her daughter were fortunate to be freed of the charges and as she exited the court Vasquez spoke to the media.
Margaret Vasquez, Freed of Firearm & Ammunition Charge
“I can’t even find words to tell the world how I feel so happy about hat because miss I swear I didn’t know anything about that, I didn’t know as there is a God in heaven I didn’t know it. It was a shock to my life and my kids’ life. My grandson and my daughter and my son what would have happen to them if I would have went…I don’t even know what to say I feel sad ‘til I feel happy, my happiness makes me want to cry.”
Reporter
“So it was your son-in-law that brought a gun into your yard and placed it under the house bottom and you had no idea?”
Margaret Vasquez
“I had no idea I don’t know why he did that.”
Reporter
“What was your reaction when the police came to your house?”
Margaret Vasquez
“I just told them, search the yard they say they have a warrant to search my house and my yard because they understand I have gun and drugs there. I told them go ahead because I know that I have nothing to hide. Because I know I do not condone those stuff in my yard. It was just me and my youngest daughter and y little grandson. We were in custody from Saturday ten o’clock to this morning. The search took about forty five minutes.”
Reporter
“And when they found that gun…what was your reaction?”
Margaret Vasquez
“The first reaction that come to me was who did that, I didn’t even have my mind on my son-in-law. The first thing that came to my mind is that somebody passed through my yard with the amount of killings and using of guns these days and just id that under my bathroom, that was the first thing that come to mind as I saw the gun.”
Matura was imposed the minimum jail term of five years.
