Cops: Patchogue man faces weapons charges after traffic stop

A traffic stop Friday evening led State Police to a Patchogue home where they found a cache of weapons and ammunition.

Andrew Kuklis, 41, was driving a 2006 Subaru east on the Southern State Parkway through the Town of Islip when troopers pulled him over to issue a traffic violation ticket around 5:30 p.m., State Police said in a news release.

Officers found marijuana as well as a loaded .45-caliber handgun, a dagger and numerous high-capacity magazines during the traffic stop, police said.

Members of the Troop L gun investigation unit searched Kuklis’ residence, where they found a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver, a .45-caliber SIG Sauer handgun, a Primary Weapons System model MK1 AR-15, and a large quantity of assorted ammunition including several high-capacity magazines, police said.

Kuklis was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C felony; three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all Class D felonies; fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor; and a violation for unlawful possession of marijuana, police said. Kuklis was also charged with failure to stay in a single lane, according to online court records.

Kuklis was arraigned on Saturday in First District Court in Central Islip.

“Mr. Kuklis denied the felony charges and pled not guilty to all other charges,” his attorney Harry Tilis said in a statement Saturday night. “I raised concerns about the possible illegality of any searches and mentioned that Mr. Kuklis was an honorably discharged member of our armed forces, having served 10 years in the defense and service of the United States.”

Kuklis was held on $25,000 cash or $100,000 bond. He is due back in court Thursday.

With Mark Morales