BEDFORD – A Lawrence County Superior Court I jury found Steven Boruff guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon Thursday.
He will be sentenced by Judge John Plummer III on January 2, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
Representing Boruff were Public Defender Tim Sledd and Attorney Adam Larimer. Presenting the case for the state was Prosecutor Sarah Cummings.
Boruff was arrested in June 2023 after Bedford Police Officers were requested to Lucky’s at 2928 Mitchell Road after a report of an intoxicated couple in a blue Chrysler van.
The caller told police that both people in the van seemed like they were “messed up” and she called when she saw the male get into the driver’s seat, saying “Her kids drive these roads and she didn’t want someone intoxicated on the streets.”
When police arrived they found 41-year-old Steven Boruff in the driver’s seat and his passenger 28-year-old Brittany Carter. Both told police they were homeless.
Police asked Boruff for his driver’s license. He stated he was not driving. He then began rummaging around in the van and was told to stop. Police say Boruff had uncontrollable movements, his eyes were glassy and his speech was rapid and unintelligible at times.
Boruff denied consent to search the vehicle stating there was nothing illegal in the van.
Carter told police that Boruff “had a rough week, he just lost his mom and got kicked out of their apartment”. She was asked if Boruff had taken anything and she replied he had ADHD. She denied there was anything illegal in the vehicle. Police say Carter was nervous and finally admitted there was a marijuana pipe in the vehicle. She told the officers the couple had been living in the van for four days.
During a search of the vehicle, police found glass smoking devices that tested positive for meth, a Bersa Thunder 380 handgun that had a round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine, multiple syringes, a cut straw with meth residue, baggies with crystal meth, multiple smoking devices that tested positive for marijuana, and two metal grinders with marijuana residue.
Carter was arrested on charges of possession of meth with a firearm, unlawful possession of a syringe, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Boruff was facing charges of possession of meth, possession of meth with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, unlawful possession of a syringe, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Carter pleaded guilty to possession of meth, a Level 5 felony, in a negotiated plea deal on September 22, 2023. Her other charges were dropped. She was sentenced on October 18, 2023, to 910 days in jail and given credit for six days served. Her sentence was suspended to probation and she was ordered to attend ADAPT classes and do 40 hours of community service.
