The U.S. Capitol Police arrested a member of the N.C. State Board of Trustees Wednesday after it found a loaded 9 mm handgun in his bag as he tried to enter a congressional office building at the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Post reported.
Ronald William Prestage, 59, of Camden, S.C., was charged with carrying a handgun outside a home or office, a felony. Prestage’s attorney said he forgot he had the handgun in his bag.
Officer Shennell S. Antrobus, a spokesman for the U.S. Capitol Police, said police conducted a routine search and found the loaded gun in Prestage’s bag at about 9:20 a.m.
Prestage is president of Prestage Farms, which has a significant relationship with N.C. State.
N.C. State named its poultry science department after the Prestage family after it announced a $10 million gift to department in 2012.
Prestage Farms employs 100 people and has contracts with 90 farmers, according to its website. It is headquartered in Clinton, N.C.
Since 2013, Prestage has served as one of the 13 members of the University’s Board of Trustees, according to the University’s website.
In addition to serving as a member of the Board of Trustees, he is also the president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council, a lobbying group for the pork industry.
Prestage was detained at Central Cell Block and was in custody as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, The News & Observer reported. He was due in court Thursday morning, according to The News & Observer.
A spokesperson for the Central Cell Block declined to comment. Fred Hartman, director of Public Relations for N.C. State, Summer Lanier, a spokeswoman for Prestage did not respond by press time.