Delco man facing jail for illegal gun possession in Norristown

NORRISTOWN — A Delaware County man must report to prison next month after he admitted to illegal gun possession, a crime uncovered by Norristown police during the investigation of a vehicular crash in the borough.

John Leslie Clayborn, 57, of the 2700 block of West Third Street, Chester, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 5 to 10 years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a prohibited weapon and driving under the influence, general impairment, in connection with an October 2023 incident in Norristown.

Judge Steven T. O’Neill ordered Clayborn to surrender to prison officials on June 1 to begin serving the sentence. Clayborn will receive credit for the 14 days he previously served in jail after his arrest and while awaiting court action on the charges.

The investigation began about 8:30 p.m. Oct. 28, 2023, when Norristown police responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Main and Markley streets.

Arriving officers observed Clayborn, who was operating a silver Toyota Sebring involved in the crash, and a male passenger, outside the vehicle.

“Clayborn had glassy eyes and was stumbling around the scene. (An officer) reached out to make contact with Clayborn to determine injuries, at which point he looked towards him and then started to flee,” Norristown Police Officer Shane Secrest alleged in the arrest affidavit.

Police tackled Clayborn in a nearby parking lot and found him to be in possession of a loaded Glock 44 handgun. A records check, police alleged, determined the gun had been reported stolen out of Lansdale.

With the charges, police alleged that Clayborn was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Other charges of receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license, accidents involving injury while not licensed and recklessly endangering other persons were dismissed against Clayborn.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Pruitt handled the case. Defense lawyer George M. Griffith Jr. represented Clayborn during the court proceedings.