'Ninja' guilty of weapons charges, put on probation
A Rockport man who police say frequently dressed as a ninja was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to a pair of weapons charges.
Nicholas P. Dragonas, 25, of 34 South St., Rockport, was sentenced to one year probation by Judge Joseph Jennings in Gloucester District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to charges of possession of a firearm without an firearms identification card and possession of chemical Mace without an firearms identification card. He was also ordered to pay a $50 fine after pleading guilty to illegal possession of fireworks charges.
Dragonas had charges of marijuana possession with intent to distribute and carrying a dangerous weapon dismissed at the request of the commonwealth.
Dragonas was arrested in October 2008 after police executed a search warrant at his Smith Street home. Police applied for the search warrant based on information provided to them by an informant who had sought a restraining order against Dragonas on Sept. 30, 2008. In the search, police recovered a bevy of weapons, including 12 samurai swords and other knives, a slingshot wrist rocket with pellets, a blow gun with darts, nunchaku and a hunting bow. Dragonas was also found in possession of Chinese throwing stars. According to Rockport police, it was not illegal to have the weapons in his home but it is illegal to carry them in public.
At the time of his arrest, Dragonas had lived in Rockport for three years and had no criminal record. The only time police had dealt with him in the past was for a parking ticket.
Police also found several items used to grow and package marijuana including scales, heat lamps, and several small bags of the drug.
Nick Curcuru may be contacted at 978-283-7000 x 3461 or ncurcuru@gloucestertimes.com.
