Hatfield man sent to state prison for stolen guns, drugs, and vehicle break-ins

A 19-year-old man from Hatfield has been sentenced to two to four years in prison after pleading guilty to various drug and weapons charges related to a series of vehicle break-ins in the township. 

The charges against Jason Jayshawn Smith stemmed from incidents that occurred in January 2024, and Smith was sentenced in Montgomery County Court after reaching a plea agreement, according to The Mercury.

In addition to his prison sentence, Smith will be under court supervision for a total of seven years, including three years of probation following his release.

The investigation into Smith began on Jan. 26, 2024, after several residents reported vehicle break-ins on Garden Road in Hatfield, per the article. 

Home surveillance footage showed a man wearing a black hoodie and carrying a backpack, leading police to start their search. Officers eventually located Smith at a nearby 7-Eleven on North Broad Street, where he matched the description of the suspect, police said. 

Police also noted that Smith's shoes and pants had fresh mud, which was consistent with the conditions in the area of the break-ins, authorities said.

During questioning, Smith initially said he had walked to the 7-Eleven from a nearby SEPTA station, but did not provide further details, per the report. 

After his arrest, officers discovered a stolen .40-caliber Glock 23 handgun with its serial number removed, marijuana in various amounts, and more than $1,200 in cash, police said. 

Additionally, Smith had several stolen credit cards, driver’s licenses, and debit cards in his possession, all linked to previous vehicle break-ins in the area, police said.

Smith faced multiple charges, including possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, receiving stolen property, and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. 

The police also found drug paraphernalia and evidence connecting Smith to additional thefts, though several other charges, including carrying a firearm without a license and theft from a motor vehicle, were dropped as part of the plea deal, per the report.

Read more on the case here.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.