$1G bail for Saugus man facing weapons charges

LYNN – A judge ordered $1,000 cash bail and house arrest for a Saugus man charged with 72 weapons offenses after police went to take the man for an emergency psychological evaluation and found 31 unlicensed guns.The man’s attorney said all the guns were collectibles.Eric Dalbo, 49, of 14 Felton St., Saugus, was arrested and charged with 31 counts of possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card, subsequent offense; possession of a large capacity firearm; possession of a covert firearm; possession of a sawed-off shotgun; possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card; possession of an electric stun gun; and 31 counts of improper storage of a firearm.He pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday in Lynn District Court.Saugus Police reported going to Dalbo’s house on Thursday morning to serve a Section 12 order, which allows police to take a person to a local hospital for an emergency psychological evaluation if the person is believed capable of causing serious harm to himself or others.Police got no answer when approaching the home but noticed Dalbo’s car in the driveway and went in the house through an unlocked door, according to a report by Saugus Police Lt. David Gecoya. Police found Dalbo in his underwear and, when accompanying the defendant to get clothes, noticed several guns strewn around Dalbo’s bedroom, police said.Police took Dalbo to the hospital and returned to the home with a search warrant. Officers reported they recovered 31 guns and learned Dalbo served two years of a 5-year sentence for a 1996 gun offense. Police reported that Dalbo’s relatives said Dalbo had been depressed recently.Police also reported that Dalbo also had a Massachusetts State Police badge, a Capitol Police badge and a Middlesex Sheriff’s Department badge as well as a gold security badge.Essex Assistant District Attorney Justin Edwards requested Dalbo be found to be a danger and held on $250,000 cash bail.Defense Attorney Richard Chambers Jr. requested his client be released on personal recognizance. Chambers said Monday his client had serious blood cancer, hepatitis and could barely walk.”They were all collectible firearms, it’s not like the guy has an arsenal,” Chambers said. “It’s not like he’s some kind of terrorist and police found a cache of weapons with AK-47s and hand grenades.”Chambers said Dalbo had not posted bail.Judge Ellen Flatley found Dalbo to be a danger, but she ordered $1,000 cash bail and conditions of release that Dalbo be confined to house arrest monitored by GPS, remain drug and alcohol free and surrender all firearms.Dalbo is scheduled to return to court Wednesday for a status review.