David Shields
MAYS LANDING – A West Deptford man Tuesday received five years in state prison for illegally possessing a handgun in Ventnor City.
According to a release from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Wilson sentenced David Shields, 44, to five years in New Jersey State Prison, plus an 18-month concurrent sentence for obstruction of justice.
Shields was arrested on May 13, 2021, in Ventnor after police were flagged down about a public disturbance. Responding officers made contact with Shields who refused to comply with the commands of officers. After a brief struggle, during which an officer suffered minor injuries, Shields was arrested and found to be in possession of a handgun. He did not have a permit to carry that handgun.
Shields must serve 42 months in state prison before he is eligible for parole. In addition to his prison sentence, Shields was ordered to pay restitution for the injuries suffered by the injured officer.
