Man accused of having illegal gun during 2021 New Kensington traffic stop ordered to trial

A New Kensington man accused of giving his father’s name when a trooper pulled him over in late 2021 and found an illegal pistol in the vehicle has been ordered to stand trial.

Aaron Brandon Lingard, 34, of Peach Court was charged by New Kensington police with felony counts of illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and false identification to law enforcement with the Dec. 1, 2021, traffic stop. He also faces three drug charges and five citations.

Lingard was taken into custody Sept. 28 and detained in the Westmoreland County jail in lieu of a $40,000 cash bond, court records show.

He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Oct. 12 before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr., who ordered him to stand trial in Westmoreland County Court. Formal arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 13.

A state trooper wrote in a criminal complaint that he was patrolling in New Kensington on Dec. 1, 2021, when he pulled over a Honda Odyssey along Barnes Street for having a broken headlight.

The trooper said there was a strong odor of marijuana in the van, and he saw a full and an empty medical marijuana package on the center console. Lingard told the trooper he did not have a state medical marijuana card, the complaint said.

Lingard did not have his driver’s license when he was stopped and told the trooper he thought the van belonged to the boyfriend of his girlfriend’s mother, the complaint said.

The trooper said he saw a pistol protruding from under the driver’s seat while standing outside the van and confiscated the weapon when Lingard told him that he did not have a concealed carry permit, the complaint said.

The Glock .45-caliber pistol had an extended magazine loaded with 22 rounds, police said.

In April, state police learned that Lingard gave the trooper a false name when he was pulled over.

Lingard was identified after a trooper showed his father a photo of the man who was pulled over, the complaint said.

Investigators said Lingard’s criminal history prohibits him from possessing a handgun.

Court records show he was convicted in 2012 of a felony firearm violation. He also was found guilty of a firearm violation in 2017 and was convicted in 2020 of possession of a prohibited offensive weapon.

In 2019, he was found guilty of a felony count of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver.