Disarmed of gun by hospital security, he’s sentenced to prison
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. May 3 2021— Two years ago, an eagle-eyed security guard at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton spied a gun handle in Kiel Newton’s waistband inside the hospital, said police.
Security officers quickly disarmed the New Brighton resident of a loaded .38-caliber revolver on Jan. 9, 2019, averting a potentially dangerous situation.
Newton, 31, was arrested and indicted on gun charges.
Now, he’ll spend the next few years in a prison cell.
On Thursday, Newton was sentenced to five years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision under a plea agreement.
Police said the events unfolded during the late morning.
Newton was voluntarily brought into the hospital for a medical condition, said cops.
At one point, the defendant said, “I need to get my ID” and reached into a bag he was carrying.
Newton pulled out a toothbrush holder and a silver object, police said.
The defendant then put the silver object into the back waistband of his pants, said police.
As he did so, a security guard observed a gun handle sticking out of the waistband, cops said.
Newton was restrained, and the security officer removed a silver .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver from the defendant’s back waistband, said police.
The defendant was indicted on charges of second-, third- and fourth-degree criminal weapon possession. He was also accused of criminal firearm possession.
In February 2020, Newton pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted second-degree criminal weapon possession to resolve the case.
The defendant has a criminal record.
In July 2017, he was convicted of misdemeanor marijuana sale and sentenced to a conditional discharge, the indictment said.
His lawyer did not immediately return an email seeking comment on the case.
