Pair of Texans to get first-hand look at Massachusetts gun, drug laws

Two Texas men stopped for driving near Newmarket Square without headlights early Monday face a variety of charges for the handgun, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, nunchucks and cocaine State Police troopers say they found them with, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

According to the DA's office, a trooper on patrol in the area of Mass. Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard spotted a Ford Fusion driving with no lights on:

The trooper activated his marked cruiser’s lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the operator allegedly continued to drive several hundred feet before stopping on Hampden Street.

Rory Welsh, 25, of San Antonio, TX, the driver, told the trooper he was on a learner's permit, but gave him the license belonging to one of his two passengers, Jonathan Washington, 33, of Corpus Christi.

Welsh was asked to exit the vehicle while police sought to confirm his identity. As he stepped out of the car, police observed a 9mm Glock handgun under the driver’s seat, prosecutors said. Welsh, who allegedly told police the gun belonged to him, was taken into custody and his passengers were removed from the car by additional State and Boston police.

After they were arrested, the DA's office continues,

Police located two loaded high-capacity magazines; a third unloaded high-capacity magazine; 163 rounds of handgun, shotgun, and rifle ammunition; and a set of nunchucks that were located between the center console and passenger’s seat where Washington had been seated.

Washington owned up to owning the nunchucks, the DA's office reports, adding that on booking, officers found a "a small plastic bag containing cocaine" in his wallet.

Welsh, who owns the car, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a large capacity firearm, improper storage of a firearm and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. A Roxbury Municipal Court judge set bail at $7,500 for him - prosecutors had asked for $20,000 bail. He was also cited for not using headlights at night.

Washington was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class B substance. The judge set bail at $300 for him - prosecutors had asked for $1,000.

The third man in the car was not charged.

Both are due back in court Aug. 9.

Innocent, etc.