SouthSide Teen Faces Felony Weapons Charges

A South Bethlehem teen-ager was charged with felony weapons possession after city police picked him allegedly drunk on a SouthSide street early Sunday morning, according to court papers.

Corey J. Smith, 18, of 1946 Lynfield Drive was spotted by police leaning against a wall with his eyes closed at 425 Fillmore St. at a little after midnight, according to the warrant. Upon closer inspection, Smith appeared to be intoxicated, police said. He had a smell of alcohol and had vomited on his jeans. His blood alcohol level tested to .112 percent, the court papers said.

Most importantly, police found that Smith was in possession of an 8 mm handgun, according to the warrant. With a juvenile court conviction for a 2010 robbery and burglary, Smith is not allowed to have a handgun. The charge associated with carrying a firearm with a prior felony conviction is a second-degree felony.

Smith is one of a group of teen-agers who had been for being involved in a string of burglaries of SouthSide homes and armed robberies in which Lehigh University students had been targeted. Police said the criminal activity was being coordinated by local leaders of the Bloods street gang.

After being arraigned on numerous weapons and alcohol-related charges before District Judge Roy Manwaring, Smith was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.