A passenger faces two felony charges after troopers reported finding a loaded handgun and a large-capacity magazine during a Route 212 stop.

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — A Saugerties traffic stop led to the arrest of a North Carolina man after New York State Police said they found an illegally possessed loaded handgun and a large-capacity ammunition feeding device. Jayvon E. Ward, 21, of Charlotte, faces two felony weapon charges following the October 7 stop, according to an October 8 State Police release.

Police identified Ward as a passenger in the vehicle. The charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The release describes the arrest and arraignment, but does not provide the underlying court complaint or a response from Ward or his attorney.

What happened during the Saugerties traffic stop?

Troopers assigned to State Police Kingston reported seeing a 2017 Nissan Sentra commit multiple traffic violations on Route 212 in the town of Saugerties at about 8:14 p.m. Wednesday, October 7. They stopped the vehicle and identified Ward during the investigation.

State Police said troopers located “an illegally possessed loaded handgun and a large capacity ammunition feeding device.” That description is the agency’s account of the discovery. The release does not identify the handgun’s make or model, the magazine’s capacity, or the number of rounds recovered.

The Town of Saugerties Police Department assisted State Police. The announcement does not describe each agency’s role or identify the driver. It also does not list the traffic violations that prompted the stop.

The reported timeline

• October 7, about 8:14 p.m.: Kingston-based troopers observed the Nissan on Route 212 and initiated a traffic stop.
• During the investigation: Police reported finding a loaded handgun and a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.
• After the arrest: Ward was arraigned through Ulster County’s centralized arraignment process.
• October 8: State Police issued the public announcement.
• October 13, 3 p.m.: Ward is scheduled to return to Town of Saugerties Court.

What charges does Ward face?

State Police listed two counts:

• Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon: The agency described this as the loaded-firearm charge, a class C felony.
• Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon: The agency described this as the large-capacity ammunition feeding device charge, a class D felony.

New York’s Penal Law Section 265.03 governs second-degree weapon possession and classifies the offense as a class C felony. Section 265.02 includes possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device among the grounds for third-degree weapon possession, a class D felony.

Those laws provide context for the names of the charges. They do not establish that Ward committed either offense. The police release does not identify the precise subsection charged under the second-degree statute, so this report does not assign one.

Does a possession charge mean someone fired the gun?

No shooting is described in this release. The reported charges concern alleged possession. The announcement does not report a discharge, a threat, or an injury. Readers should not add those events to the account or assume that a possession charge establishes an intent to hurt someone.

Likewise, the phrase “large capacity” does not tell readers the exact size of the device in this case. Police did not release that measurement. Without the evidence or charging documents, a more detailed description of the recovered equipment cannot be verified.

What happened at arraignment?

According to State Police, Ward was arraigned at the Ulster County Centralized Arraignment Part and sent to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond. Those figures describe the bail terms reported by police. The release does not establish whether bail was later posted or whether his custody status has changed.

An arraignment is an early court appearance at which a defendant is formally informed of the charges and rights. The New York court system’s arraignment guide explains that defendants have a right to counsel and that the judge addresses release or bail. An arraignment does not itself resolve disputed evidence.

Bail concerns a defendant’s return to court. It is separate from a sentence imposed after a conviction. The State Police announcement does not report Ward’s plea, name his attorney, or provide the judge’s explanation for the bail amounts.

What happens next in the case?

The next reported appearance is October 13 at 3 p.m. in Town of Saugerties Court. The release calls it a reappearance; it does not identify it as a trial or sentencing. The purpose and outcome of that appearance will need to be confirmed through subsequent court information.

The New York court system’s criminal-case guide explains that cases can involve evidence exchange, motions, hearings, a trial, or a plea agreement. Not every case follows every step. At trial, prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. These are general features of the process, not predictions about Ward’s case.

Further reporting should follow the evidence and court record. A later filing may clarify the alleged possession, the recovered items, and the circumstances of the search. Until then, the announcement supports a report about an arrest and charges, rather than a finding of guilt.

What remains unverified?

The public announcement leaves several questions unanswered:

• Which traffic violations did troopers observe?
• Where were the handgun and magazine found?
• What facts support the allegation that Ward possessed them?
• What legal basis supported the search?
• What is the defense response?

I cannot verify this information from the release or the sources reviewed for this report. These gaps do not establish wrongdoing by either the defendant or police. They mark the limits of the public information available at this stage.

Quick answers for readers

Was Ward driving the Nissan?

State Police identified him as a passenger. The announcement did not name the driver.

How many felony counts were announced?

Police announced two: second-degree and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Was anyone reported injured?

The release did not report an injury. It also did not describe a shooting.

Has Ward been convicted?

The announcement reports an arrest and arraignment, not a conviction. He retains the presumption of innocence.

Follow the court record

The immediate development is a two-count felony prosecution following a nighttime traffic stop. Its outcome remains unresolved. Readers following the case should check for official court updates and distinguish the initial police account from facts established through the legal process.

Sources: New York State Police, October 8, 2026; New York Senate’s published Penal Law; and New York Unified Court System guides linked above. This report is based on the official release and verified legal background; an independent account of the stop was not available in the sources reviewed.