Taunton man charged on drug and firearm charges while out on bail

An 18-year-old Taunton man arrested this month on illegal firearm and drug-related offenses while already out on bail on a pending vandalism case was found dangerous and had his bail revoked by a Taunton District Court Judge last week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, Davonrence Lucas was charged by Taunton Police on May 20th with defacing the serial number of a firearm, carrying an illegal firearm, and two counts of possessing class B drugs.

On that evening, Taunton Police observed an individual known to have a suspended license driving a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle was pulled over and it contained three other passengers, along with the driver. The defendant was identified as one of the two rear seat passengers. During the stop, police observed the defendant bending over towards what appeared to be the floor board of the seat in front of them. The defendant specifically was seen reaching under his seat then looking back at the officer. A subsequent search of the area that Lucas reached towards revealed seven blue pills of what appeared to be Oxycodone in a small glassine bag, and eight suboxone strips wrapped in tissue paper and a small wad of cash. Police also seized a shoebox from the backseat which contained a Jimenez Arms 32 caliber firearm. The serial number had been defaced.

The defendant was arraigned on the charges telephonically through the Taunton District Court on May 21. A dangerousness hearing and a bail revocation hearing was also conducted telephonically on that date. The dangerousness hearing and bail revocation hearing was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Bryan Thompson. Judge Neil Hourihan found the defendant to be a danger to the community and ordered him held without bail for up to 120 days. The judge also revoked the bail on the defendant’s pending vandalism case, which was also out of Taunton District Court.

“This defendant was up to no good while possessing an illegal firearm and narcotics. In addition, he was out on bail at the time of his arrest. He is a danger to the community and does not belong out on the streets,” District Attorney Quinn said.