NJ Man Threatened Woman, Had Illegal Gun Cache, Police Say

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — A Sussex County man was arrested recently after threatening to shoot a woman with several firearms, police say.

Austin Babcock, 29, of Hardyston faces several charges after threatening a woman and owning several defaced guns, according to authorities.

On March 30, a woman in Franklin Borough reported to police that Babcock threatened to harm her with guns, officials say.

Authorities discovered Babcock was in possession of a rifle as well as a handgun with a high-capacity magazine, police say.

A search of Babcock’s residences in Sussex and Franklin boroughs revealed he had a long rifle with identifying serial numbers defaced from the weapon, a semi-automatic handgun, hollow point ammunition, and high-capacity magazines, according to authorities.

Babcock was arrested and charged with several offenses, including defacement of weapons, possession of prohibited weapons, and certain persons not to possess firearms.

Babcock was taken to the Morris County Correctional Facility to await court proceedings.