Morganton man charged after cops find gun with destroyed serial number

A man ended up in jail without bond Wednesday night after Morganton officers stopped his car for a registration violation.

Michael Dale Mclean, 43, of Morganton, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm with an altered/destroyed serial number, driving during revocation, no liability insurance, failure to register vehicle and simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance, according to a release from the Morganton Department of Public Safety.

Mclean was charged after an officer pulled over a black Ford Explorer on South Sterling Street for a registration violation, the release said.

While speaking with Mclean, who was the driver, officers found marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. A subsequent search led to the discovery of a loaded .22-caliber Magnum pistol in Mclean's pocket, the release said.

Mclean is a felon with previous convictions of receiving/possessing a stolen vehicle, attempted speeding to elude arrest, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, conspiracy to commit felony breaking and entering, conspiracy to commit larceny over $1,000, larceny of a motor vehicle, contraband to prisoners, discharging a firearm into an occupied property and common law burglary, along with a slew of misdemeanor convictions, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

He was held at the Burke County Jail without bond, the release said. He was due to appear in court Thursday.