TRENTON — A former Vineland police officer has pleaded guilty to possession of assault rifles and illegal ammunition magazines.
Brian Hinkel, 62, of Newfield, pleaded guilty Thursday before Superior Court Judge M. Christine Allen-Jackson in Gloucester County to four counts of third-degree possession of an assault rifle and 21 counts of fourth-degree possession of a prohibited device.
The prohibited devices were 21 illegal large-capacity ammunition magazines. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend Hinkel be sentenced to five years in state prison. He will be sentenced June 1.
Hinkel was arrested on Jan. 26, 2009, when members of the State Police went to his house to question him in an unrelated investigation and discovered numerous firearms in plain view. The State Police executed a search warrant and discovered around 258 guns, including the illegal assault rifles.
Hinkel admitted to illegally possessing 21 large-capacity magazines for semi-automatic rifles, as well as the following illegal assault weapons: a Calico .22-caliber long rifle semi-automatic carbine, a 7.62x39mm Norinco semi-automatic rifle, a .223-caliber Colt semi-automatic rifle, and a .30-caliber National Ordnance semi-automatic carbine.
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