A troubled attorney was arrested on Thursday morning after he attempted to bring a loaded gun into the Pinellas County courthouse before his scheduled disbarment hearing.
James Lowy, 49, walked into the Pinellas County Justice Center located at 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater around 9 a.m. on Wednesday. He approached the security screening area and placed his belongings on a tray to be checked by x-ray machine.
A deputy working the x-ray machine identified the outline of a gun and a magazine in Lowy's backpack.
Lowy's backpack was inspected and deputies found a loaded Ruger .45 caliber handgun containing a fully loaded magazine with one bullet in the chamber and a second fully loaded magazine.
Deputies detained Lowy and interviewed him. He admitted that the handgun was his but he does not possess a concealed weapon permit. Lowy told deputies that he meant to put the gun in his car and that he had no intention of hurting anyone and that he purchased the gun from a client. He said he carries the gun because he also owns a strip club.
Lowy was arrested and charged with one count of carrying a concealed firearm.
