ROCKLAND – A Warren man who is prohibited from having a firearm under Maine’s yellow flag law, attempted to purchase a firearm July 25 in Rockland, according to a news release on the Rockland Police Department’s Facebook page July 26.

James Flaherty, 54, was arrested by Rockland Police on the charge of criminal attempted possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person. He had been barred from having a firearm under the state’s yellow flag law. The law gives police the authority to seize weapons if there is a complaint from a concerned person or family member if they believe a gun owner poses an imminent threat to themselves or others. 

The district attorney’s office filed the additional complaint of forgery in Knox County Court, according to the court document.

Flaherty pleaded guilty to the charges of criminal attempted possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and forgery at his initial appearance in Knox County Court on July 27. Judge Sarah Gilbert presided over the hearing.

He was sentenced to 48 hours in jail.

According to the police affidavit filed by Rockland Police in Knox County Court, police were notified when Flaherty attempted to purchase a firearm at Johnson’s Sporting Goods store in Rockland. He also falsified his responses on the federal firearms paperwork.

Flaherty had an active weapons restriction order, which he signed, from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

He also was convicted July 20 in Knox County Court for violating a protection order July 18 in Rockland. The sentence for that charge was 48 hours in jail.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com