ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County deputies reportedly recovered a stolen firearm during a weekend traffic stop.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies stopped a vehicle, driven by 21-year-old Sebastian Mateo Andreasen for a stop sign violation around 8:43 p.m. Sunday, March 14.
(NOTE: The press release does not indicate where the stop took place and court records do not reflect a citation related to the stated reason for the stop.)
Deputies reportedly “detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle,” during the interaction with the defendant.
While searching the vehicle, deputies reportedly found under the driver’s seat a clear bag of suspected marijuana and a Glock 20 10mm semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen by the Hamlet Police Department.
(NOTE: Court records show the defendant has addresses in both Laurinburg and Hamlet.)
Andreasen was charged with a felony count of possession of a stolen firearm and a misdemeanor count of simple possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance. He was given a combined $5,500 secured bond and released on bail the same night, and is scheduled to appear in court March 26.
Online court records show Andreasen was issued a traffic citation in 2024 for having no operator’s license and making an improper turn. However, records show he failed to appear in court three consecutive times and the case was dismissed with leave — meaning it can be brought back — by the district attorney’s office in July 2025.
Andreasen was also charged in a domestic violence case in October 2025, but that case was dismissed without leave later that month.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
