Commonwealth v. Sampson

The defendant, Michael Jon Sampson, appeals from his conviction under G. L. c. 269, § 10 (a), for carrying a firearm without a license. A single justice of the Appeals Court allowed Sampson’s motion for a stay of execution of sentence, and we granted direct appellate review. We reverse the conviction.

The following evidence was presented at the jury waived trial in the Superior Court. While on duty on April 4, 1979, three Lowell police officers saw a man, whom they recog nized as Sampson, enter a sandwich shop. A check with police headquarters confirmed the officers’ suspicion that a warrant…