Court Report: Waltham man awaits pretrial for ammunition possession charge

A Waltham man was released on personal recognizance after pleading innocent to unlawful possession of ammunition.

In Waltham District Court, Charles Ogua, 35, of 118 Robbins St., was charged with possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card. Ogua is expected back in Waltham District Court for a May 29 pretrial hearing.

Ogua’s arrest stemmed from a 9-1-1 text message from his phone to the Police Department early in the morning on April 15. According to the report, the message stated that an individual at a residence on Brookfield Road might be in danger.

Court documents detailed the events of that morning:

At 2:52 a.m. police responded to Ogua’s residence to conduct a well-being check. 

After Ogua let officers into his apartment, officers heard a noise coming from a closet. According to the court documents, officers searched the closet because of a police history of responding to mental health-related incidents involving Ogua, who police said has a tendency of leaving knives throughout his apartment.

Inside the closet was a homeless individual, who told officers that she was staying with Ogua because she didn’t have anywhere else to stay. The individual did not tell officers why she was hiding in the closet, and was allowed to leave. Officers determined this individual was not the one reported to be in danger in the initial 9-1-1 call. 

After the individual left, an officer located two loose shotgun cartridges on Ogua’s dresser. Next to the loose ammunition was a box of 25 additional shotgun cartridges. The report states that the top drawer of the dresser was found open, and officers discovered 23 loose shotgun shells inside.

Officers asked Ogua if they could search his apartment for weapons and additional ammunition. According to court documents, Ogua complied with the request and signed a Consent to Search Form. No weapons or additional ammunition were found. 

Additionally, Ogua could not provide a firearm identification card to police, according to court documents. 

He was subsequently arrested and transferred to the Waltham Police Department for booking.

Ogua was questioned about his ammunition possession and told police that he purchased it at the Walmart in Framingham on April 11 and was not asked to provide an FID card. Ogua could not provide any proof of purchase.

Ogua also has prior warrant arrest charges in Waltham from 2022 for assault and battery and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.