A Leesburg man was arrested after being stopped with a stolen handgun concealed under his seat.
On Sunday morning, July 5, a deputy stopped 22-year-old Aaron Corneleius Rafus and a female passenger at the intersection of County Road 44 and Rast Treasure Island Avenue in Leesburg, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Rafus had driven across a solid white line into oncoming traffic in a blue 2023 Nissan Sentra.
As the deputy approached the driver’s side of the car, he noticed Rafus place a gray object beneath his seat. The deputy also noticed a green leafy substance and many rolled blunts on the center console. Rafus stated that he was heading home when he gave up his license and registration, according to the report.
A search of his details revealed that his license had been suspended since 2025. When told this, Rafus stated that he was unaware. He was then questioned about what had been placed under the driver’s seat, which he initially claimed was only a can, according to the article.
The deputy later requested Rafus to be honest, and he admitted to having a weapon under the driver’s seat. After retrieving the firearm, the deputy identified it as a Smith & Wesson SD40. A check of the serial number revealed that it had been reported stolen, according to the report.
Rafus was detained on the suspicion of possessing a stolen handgun. He was booked into Lake County Jail and released after posting a $2,500 bond.
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