Man Found Guilty of Possessing Schedule II Drugs While Possessing Firearm in 2023

NORFOLK, Va. – Antoine Maurice Legrande, 27, was convicted following a bench trial on Tuesday of possessing Schedule II drugs and possessing a firearm on his person while possessing those drugs after he was charged with those offenses from a traffic stop last year.

Just after midnight on Nov. 25, 2023, Norfolk Police patrol officers saw a vehicle traveling the wrong way on Smith Street in the Young Terrace neighborhood and running a stop sign at the intersection of Church Street and Olney Road. The officers pulled the vehicle over and identified Mr. Legrande as the driver. Officers immediately noticed a handgun in the cupholder area between Mr. Legrande and the front seat passenger. Mr. Legrande claimed ownership of the gun, gave officers permission to take and secure the gun, and later showed officers a receipt as proof that he had purchased the gun. Officers also saw on the floor of the car a medicine bottle with pills that were later tested and confirmed to be Percocet, which is a Schedule II drug and is illegal to knowingly possess while knowingly possessing a firearm. Mr. Legrande also claimed ownership of the Percocet and told officers that he did not have a prescription for them.

The officers arrested Mr. Legrande, and Mr. Legrande was charged with felony possession of a Schedule I/II substance as well as possession of a firearm on his person while possessing a Schedule I/II substance. On Tuesday, Mr. Legrande pleaded not guilty to his two charges and opted to be tried by a judge. After hearing the evidence, Judge Robert B. Rigney found Mr. Legrande guilty as charged and set his sentencing hearing on Dec. 20.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Shavaughn N. Banks is prosecuting Mr. Legrande’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth.

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