Man Who Accidentally Shot At School Found With 4 Guns: Cops

MATTITUCK, NY — A Mattituck man charged with reckless endangement in 2009 after accidentally firing a gun that injured a student sitting in class at Mattituck High School was arrested Monday after he was found to have rifles and shotguns at his home, police said.

According to Southold Town Police, Kevin Ehlinger, 37, of Village Lane was arrested on Monday relating to an incident on June 18, when a a call came in regarding a person "possibly attempting to harm himself."

Officers confronted Ehlinger, a resident of the address; he turned over two rifles and two shotguns, ammunition and magazines, police said.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that Ehlinger could not legally possess the weapons and he was charged with third degree criminal possession of a weapon, ammunition feeding device, a felony; fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, "prior felon with shotgun/firearm," a misdemeanor, and failure to register a lawfully possessed assault weapon, a misdemeanor, police said.

Ehlinger was arrested on Monday, processed at Southold Police headquarters, and held for an arraignment on Tuesday, where he was represented by attorney Michael Fehringer of Hauppauge.

At his arraignment, Fehringer said Ehlinger lived with his mother and stepfather in Mattituck and was employed in Hampton Bays; he attended Mattituck High School and was a lifelong resident of Suffolk County, he said. Fehringer also said Ehlinger suffered from medical conditions. He was charged with reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in a restricted area in 2010 and sentenced with probation, according to police.

An assistant district attorney asked for a stay away order of protection and that bail be set at $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond; Justice Brian Hughes set bail at that amount, $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond. A bail bondsman was onhand and Ehlinger's mother and stepfather were present in court.

Patch lead photo by Lisa Finn.