State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Richard Hock, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed Hock's conviction for unlawful possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle. The Court held that the warrantless search of the impounded automobile was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, that the State bore the burden of proving lack of a gun permit, and that the jury instruction on presumptive possession was not reversible error. The Court also found the indictment's concealment allegation surplusage but not prejudicial.