Nicholas B. Osborne, 18, of California
Nicholas Bruce Osborne, 18, of California,was recently featured in a SMNEWSNET article on February 22, 2018, for shooting up a residence in Leonardtown.
Osbourne is back in the news with three more serious charges, this time in Calvert County
On Sunday, December 16, 2017, at approximately 6:55 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 23000 block of Green Holly Road, in Lexington Park, for a report of an armed robbery.
Contact was made with Osborne who advised he arranged to meet with Jerel Gaines to conduct a drug transaction. Osborne arrived at the predesignated location and Gaines got into his vehicle. Osborne advised he was immediately assaulted, and during the assault two unknown persons opened the car door and began to assault him as well.
During the struggle, Osborne produced a handgun. One of the suspects was able to gain possession of the handgun and pointed it at Osborne.
On December 19, 2017. Capt. Edward A Willenborg of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division requested the assistance of the Maryland State Police Firearms Enforcement Unit to investigate the illegal sale/ transfer of the regulated firearm to Osborne since he is prohibited from possessing it due to his age, also since the listed owner, Michael James Sprague, Jr., lives in Calvert County.
The case was forwarded to Trooper First Class Hagan of the Maryland State Police Prince Frederick Barrack for follow up investigation. TFC Hagan had an in depth background investigation conducted to determine if Osbourne could legally possess a handgun in Maryland, which revealed that Osborne is prohibited from possessing regulated firearm because he is under 21 years of age.
On January 23, 2018, TFC. Hagan and Sgt Brazill of the Maryland State Police Firearms Enforcement Unit conducted an interview with Osbourne at his home in California.
TFC Hagan began asking Osbourne as to what happened during the robbery he was involved. Osbourne stated he was attempting to make a drug deal and was robbed. He stated he had the firearm in his waistband because he did not want to be assaulted and went to grab the fireann and pulled the trigger. After pulling the trigger, he noticed nothing happened because he had not placed a round of ammunition in the chamber of the firearm. He continued to state how he attempted to chamber a round and in the process he accidently hit the magazine release button and the magazine exited the gun. Osbourne advised he was assaulted anyways and had the firearm taken from him during the robbery.
TFC Hagan began to ask Osbourne about what type of firearm he was in possession of, Osbourne stated it was a Beretta M9 9mm semi-automatic firearm. Osbourne was unable to advise a serial number for the handgun he possessed on 12/18/2017. Speaking with Osbourne, he advised he also received two magazines when he purchased it but no ammunition. When asked where he got the
firearm, he stated he bought it from a friend and it was not stolen. He stated he paid $450 for the firearm and met the “friend” he purchased it from on instagram. He described the friend as Mitchell or Michael Sprague who is a white male, about 18 years old, average height and weight and having dirty blonde hair. He stated he went to this friend’s home in Calvert County and bought it there. According to Osbourne, the sale occurred between October 16th and thanksgiving, 2017. When asked why he purchased it, he stated he needed it for protection. When asked if he got another firearm since the robbery, he advised he had tried but was unsuccessful. When asked if he knew he could not possess a firearm due to his age, Osbourne advised he thought he could possess it but not buy it at a gun store. Osbourne stated he did not complete any paperwork for the transfer of the firearm, which is required by law and thus was involved in an illegal sale of a firearm.
Maryland law states a person under the age of 21 cannot possess a regulated firearm and a Beretta M9 is a regulated firearm since it is a handgun.
On February 22, 2018, an arrest warrant was served on Nicholas Bruce Osborne, 18, of California, charging him with three firearms violations.
Osbourne is currently being held at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center, on a no bond status.
Nicholas B. Osborne, 18, of California
