Man gets 8 years for carrying handgun without license

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A Fort Wayne man was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday in Allen County Superior Court for carrying a handgun without a license, a Class C felony.

The charges stem from an incident that took place Jan. 23. According to court documents, a Fort Wayne Police Department officer responded to the Thunderbowl to investigate a report of a party armed.

The officer saw a car matching the description of a person of interest and initiated a traffic stop. Brandon Hardy, 28, of 4200 block of Encino Drive, was in the back seat, while the driver of the car was identified as someone who had a warrant issued on them.

Upon searching the back seat of the vehicle, a .45 caliber Springfield gun was found. The gun was found under Hardy's seat within his immediate control; Hardy had been convicted of felony possession of a firearm on school property back in 2002.

Superior Court Judge Frances Gull sentenced Hardy to eight years, with three to be served, five years suspended and three years of probation.