ALBANY – An  Albany man pled guilty Tuesday to a charge of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

William Rodriguez, 30, of Second Street faces up to five years in prison and five years post release supervision when sentenced in July.

Rodriguez must also sign a no contact order of protection for the victim and her children.

“Possession of an illegal firearm is certainly a crime, but threatening a victim with that loaded gun in front of three children and then hiding it in the bed of an infant is far more egregious. This man is very lucky to be facing five years in prison instead of a lifetime behind bars if the victim or a child had been injured or killed as a result of his actions,” said District Attorney David Soares.

On March 10, 2008 at 225 Second Street, in the City of Albany, Albany Police officers responded to a call from a woman who said she was threatened with a gun by her boyfriend.

The investigation showed that Rodriguez had punched the woman in the stomach, face and body, while pushing and shouting at her.

Rodriguez then held a loaded .25 Caliber handgun to her head and stated, “I’m gonna shoot you in your (expletive) head and your brains are gonna scatter.” There were three children present during some of these incidents and the loaded gun was found hidden in the crib of one of the children.