Lynn man arraigned on gun charges faces 15 years in jail

SALEM – Bail for a Lynn felon facing a mandatory 15-year prison sentence after being arrested with three guns in his possession in Peabody last November remains at $15,000 following his arraignment in Salem Superior Court.Sokhannara Chea, 22, of 9 South St., #1, Lynn, pleaded innocent Thursday to three counts of carrying a firearm having been previously convicted of a violent or drug crime, three counts of carrying a loaded firearm without a license, three counts of carrying a firearm without a license, three counts of possession of ammunition as well as a single charge for possession of heroin.Judge Timothy Q. Feeley agreed to set the same bail amount as previously set in Peabody District Court, at the joint request of Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Kunsch and defense lawyer Jill S. Gately and continued the case to July 13.In the meantime, Chea remains free in lieu of bail.The charges arise out of his arrest in Peabody on the night of Nov. 15 when police say they found him in a gray 2007 Honda Accord on Lynnfield Street with three loaded weapons: a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver, a .25 semi-automatic pistol and a .45 caliber handgun.Police Officer Scott Paszkowski responded to the area on a report of suspicious activity near an ATM machine by a concerned citizen.Chea reportedly was the driver of the vehicle. He had other occupants in the car, police said.In addition to the firearms, police said they seized a twist of heroin.Chea also has similar charges pending in Superior Court arising out of his arrest in Lawrence on Feb. 21, 2010. He has denied the charges and is free on $5,000 cash bail on the case.That case is also continued to July 13 for a possible disposition of the matter.