Oct 11, 2007 6:36 pm US/Eastern
Man Who Threatened Ref Has Prior Conviction
ASPEN HILL, Md. (WJZ) ―
Aaron McCown, 31, of Baltimore, has been charged in possession of a firearm in connection with an incident that happened at a youth football game.
It happened Sept. 22 at Aspen Hill Park on Baltic Avenue.
A referee ended a youth football game early due to inappropriate behavior by one of the teams and its coaching staff.
That's when the team's coach Aaron McCown threatened the referee. McCown was then seen proceeding toward the parking lot and back to the field toward the referee holding a black bag.
Witnesses called the police. When police arrived, McCown ran back to the parking lot, placed the bag into the bed of a pickup truck, and left.
"We want to make it crystal clear that criminals who carry guns in Maryland will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said U.S. Attorney for Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
A Maryland National Capital Park Police officer met with the referee who stated that he saw McCown place a black bag in the truck.
The owner of the truck consented to a search which revealed a black bag containing a .45 pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition.
Further investigation revealed that McCown is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction in Baltimore City.
McCown faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and had his initial appearance in federal district court in Greenbelt Thursday.
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