A western Massachusetts man has been acquitted of three weapons charges stemming from when police found a gun inside a hollowed-out Bible at his residence in 2015.
The Springfield Republican reports 33-year-old Jimmie James testified that the Bible containing the firearm was not in his bedroom when he left his Whittier Street home before police executed a search warrant at the property on May 13, 2015.
Officer Edward Kalish testified that the Bible was found on a dresser in James' room. James said the gun belonged to his brother, who also lives in the apartment and normally keeps the weapon in a safe.
Defense attorney Joe Smith III told jurors in his closing argument that officers planted the Bible in James' room.
James was found guilty of cocaine possession.
