Local police arrested a man last week for allegedly illegally possessing a firearm — but only after stopping him for another offense.
The man was spotted driving a stolen vehicle in the 6000 block of Richmond Highway in Groveton around 10:38 a.m. on Aug. 14, catching the attention of Auto Crimes Enforcement detectives, the Fairfax County Police Department said yesterday (Tuesday).
“Detectives approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Nathan Temesgen, 23, of Alexandria,” the FCPD said. “Temesgen was taken into custody without incident.”
Upon searching the vehicle, officers found a loaded gun. Temesgen’s possession of firearms and ammunition is illegal under Virginia law due to his status as a convicted felon, police say.
A resident of the Mount Vernon area, per court records, the man pleaded guilty to grand larceny of an automobile in Fairfax County last June. He was ultimately sentenced to 30 days in jail and was released last fall.
Court records show a variety of other, mostly misdemeanor charges dating back to 2020, including an arrest in 2021, when he was accused of being part of a group that robbed a juvenile of a pair of shoes at gunpoint in Alexandria, FFXnow’s sister site ALXnow previously reported.
For his Aug. 14 arrest, Temesgen has been charged with one count each of grand larceny of an automobile and felon in possession of a firearm — both felonies.
Currently in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond, he is scheduled to appear in Fairfax County General District Court on Nov. 18 for a preliminary hearing, online court records stated.
If convicted of both crimes, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 25 years behind bars, according to Virginia law.
The FCPD says the case is part of its Operation Press Check, a collaborative initiative with the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney that focuses on addressing illegal firearm possession. Police seized 79 guns while investigating 90 cases in 2023 and 2024 as part of the operation.
