NEW CASTLE, DE — A 20-year-old New Castle man faces three felony charges after police recovered an AR-15-style rifle and the chassis of a Dodge Charger reported stolen from Chester, Pennsylvania, during a search of his residence.
Derwin McLaughlin, 20, was arrested Monday, Oct. 19, following an investigation by the New Castle County Division of Police that began in July.
According to county police, detectives with the Criminal Investigations Unit opened an investigation into suspected criminal activity involving McLaughlin and subsequently obtained a search warrant for his residence in the unit block of Catherine Street.
Officers executed the warrant Oct. 19 and recovered an AR-15-style 5.56mm rifle, a 9mm magazine, and ammunition from inside the residence.
During the search, investigators also discovered the chassis of a white Dodge Charger in the backyard.
Police determined that the vehicle had been reported stolen from Chester in January 2026.
McLaughlin was taken into custody and transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters.
He was charged with felony possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, felony possession of ammunition by a person prohibited, and felony receiving stolen property valued at more than $1,500.
McLaughlin was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $20,000 cash bail.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.