By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
A former car dealer arrested in January for bringing a gun into the Rowan County Justice Center will pay court costs.
Don Mays, 67, of 695 Blue Heron Road, was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon on state property and in a courthouse, both misdemeanors.
Mays was on his way to court to support his son, who was appearing in court for driving infractions, when he set off courthouse metal detectors.
Mays told a Post reporter he informed the deputy he had a gun in his pocket and took it out. Mays said he’d carried the .22-caliber revolver for years for protection and simply forgot he had it.
Sheriff’s officials noted Mays did not point the gun at anyone. He was charged because he did not have a permit to carry the concealed weapon.
When Mays appeared in court Thursday, District Court Judge Kevin Eddinger fined him $200, plus court costs, and ordered the gun destroyed.
Phone calls to Mays’ home and business were not immediately returned.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.