Salisbury Man Convicted, Sentenced of Illegal Possession of a Firearm

SALISBURY, Md. – The Wicomico County State’s Attorney (SA) has announced the conviction and sentencing of a Salisbury man for illegal possession of a regulated firearm.

On Mar. 18, 64-year-old Leon Grant, Sr. plead guilty to the aforementioned charge. Judge S. James Sarbanes accepted the plea and sentenced him to 15 years of incarceration, with all but seven years being suspended. Grant must serve a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.

“We have seen time and time again violent crimes committed by individuals using firearms who should not have the firearm in the first place,” said SA Jamie L. Dykes. “It is quite true that we cannot rely on lawbreakers to obey the law, but this Office will enforce the firearms possession laws in an effort to prevent firearm violence.”

On Nov. 5, 2025, officers from the Wicomico Narcotics Unit executed a search and seizure warrant on Grant’s residence. A search of the home resulted in the recovery of a Smith and Wesson handgun which contained a magazine loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. Grant is prohibited from possessing a firearm based on a prior conviction for sexual assault. A firearm trace of the handgun revealed that it was reported stolen from the state of Georgia in 2023.