$25K bail for man facing gun charges

The Superior Court has imposed a $25,000 cash bail on a man facing multiple gun charges after he was caught throwing a bag out of a car window at a traffic stop. The bag was allegedly later found to contain a handgun.

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph Camacho imposed Monday a $25,000 cash bail on Alexander Palacios Borja Jr., 32, who is facing gun-related charges for violating firearm regulations including storage of firearms, lawful transportation of firearms, persons permitted to possess ammunition, removal of a firearm’s serial numbers, and firearm owner’s identification card requirement exceptions.

After his bail hearing last Monday, Borja was remanded back to Department of Corrections custody and was ordered to return to court on Dec. 27, at 10am for his preliminary while his arraignment was set for Jan. 8, 2024.

During the bail hearing, the Office of the Public Defender was appointed to represent Borja while Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds appeared for the government.

According to court documents, police conducted a violator stop on a green Hyundai Tucson operated by Borja last Dec. 14, because the car was being driven with no lights on the car’s rear license plate.

As the first officer was approaching Borja, another officer said they saw a black bag fly out of the passenger-side window and land on the ground. Upon opening the bag, police found a Glock handgun loaded with a magazine clip.

When police asked Borja about the bag, he initially claimed that he did not know who owns the bag. Later, however, Borja allegedly admitted to police that he grabbed the black bag from the back seat and threw it out of the passenger-side window, as he was afraid he may be charged with possession of a firearm.

He added that the Glock handgun inside the black bag belonged to his godbrother, who told him to hold it for him until he was released from prison.

After the traffic stop, police impounded Borja’s car and Borja was transported to the Department of Public Safety.