A 52-year-old woman from Mentz was arrested last week after deputies say she was found with a self-manufactured, untraceable handgun.
According to the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, Patricia A. Ewald was taken into custody on October 24 and charged with criminal possession of a firearm, a Class E felony.
The charge stems from an investigation that revealed Ewald had an unserialized, self-made pistol — often referred to as a “ghost gun” — in her possession. These weapons are typically not registered and lack serial numbers, making them difficult to trace.
Ewald was processed at the Sheriff’s Office and released with an appearance ticket. She is scheduled to appear in Mentz Town Court on November 3.
Anyone with information about the case can contact the Sheriff’s Office or leave a tip anonymously through the SaferWatch app.
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