A Manning man accused of illegally carrying a firearm has filed a not guilty plea to the charge levied against him in Carroll County District Court. According to court records, 38-year-old Joseph Michael Bainbridge submitted his written plea Thursday to a single count of carrying weapons, an aggravated misdemeanor. The charge stems from a March 6 traffic stop by the Manning Police Department due to Bainbridge allegedly driving a motor vehicle with a suspended license. Authorities say a loaded pistol was found tucked into his waistband, and he did not possess a valid permit to carry a weapon in this manner. A judge signed an order at the end of last week scheduling Bainbridge’s jury trial to begin on Tuesday, June 1 with a pretrial conference slated for May 27. An aggravated misdemeanor in Iowa carries a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison and $6,250 in fines.
