Austin men plead not guilty to gun charges
Published 10:17 am Friday, January 2, 2015
Two Austin men arrested for allegedly shooting guns off in northwest Austin have pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of possessing guns as felons convicted of violent crimes.
Thavinh Kullavongsa, 32, and Phouminh Kullavongsa, 34, are each charged with four counts of possessing guns as a felon and one count of fifth-degree marijuana possession. The two pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Mower County court.
Police arrested the two shortly after 7 a.m. on Dec. 18 after witnesses reported gunshots coming from the basement of an apartment home at the 1400 block of Eighth Avenue Northwest.
Officers heard firecrackers coming from the area and found the suspects in the basement. The two were arrested after police found shell casings in the driveway and a stairwell.
Police found four guns in their home: a Kahr .45-caliber pistol, ATI .22-caliber pistol, Glock 9mm pistol and a New England Arms 12-gauge shotgun. Two glass methamphetamine pipes, a scale, some fireworks and about 402 grams of marijuana were also found.
Phouminh was previously convicted of fifth-degree drug crime in 2006, and third-degree drug crime in 2007 and 2009. Thavinh was convicted of second-degree assault in 2004 and terroristic threats in 2006.