A preliminary hearing forRonald William Prestage that was originally scheduled for August 13 was postponed until September 10. Prestage, 59, the president ofPrestage Farms of South Carolina and president-elect ofNational Pork Producers Council, was arrested July 23 on suspicion of trying to enter the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., with a loaded firearm.The pork and turkey company executive was charged with carrying a pistol outside his home or business, which is a felony in Washington, D.C. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.Court documents state the prosecution and the defense are continuing their negotiations, according to aRoll Call blog, suggesting a possible plea bargain.Prestage holds a concealed-carry permit in his home state of South Carolina, but concealed-carry permits are not issued in Washington, D.C., and open carry there is prohibited.Prestage was searched as a matter of routine as he entered the federal building, and an officer allegedly found a loaded 9-millimeterRuger handgun in his bag. Prestage was believed to have been on his way to meet with members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation.

2014-08-14 / Source Go back