San Mateo Man Found Drunk and With Shotgun Takes Plea Deal

A 54-year-old San Mateo man has admitted he was drunk and illegally in possession of a firearm when he tried to return to the scene of an argument with a shotgun last summer, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Vernon Wayne Smith pleaded no contest to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to felony drunk driving in San Mateo County Superior Court on Friday.

Smith had multiple prior felony drunk driving convictions when, on Aug. 1, 2011, he got into an argument while drunk with another man, prosecutors said.

Smith, according to prosecutors, then drove to his father's home with a friend, retrieved a shotgun, and drove to his own home.

His friend tried to talk him out of going back to the other man's apartment who Smith had been fighting with, and eventually the friend tried to wrestle the shotgun away from Smith, prosecutors said.

Neighbors called the police, who found Smith with the shotgun and determined he had 0.15 percent blood alcohol level.

Under the condition of his plea deal, Smith will serve three years in prison. He is due back in court on May 4 for sentencing, and remains in custody on $100,000 bail.

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