CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) — A conviction in Cortland County is being backed up.

The New York State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has affirmed the 2020 conviction of Leon Graham, who left behind a sawed-off shotgun in a bag at a basketball court in 2019. Graham was convicted of felony criminal possession of a weapon.

“Sawed-Off shotguns are firearms with no legitimate purpose and this Office will always take action to prosecute those who possess such dangerous weapons to the fullest extent of the law,” Cortland County District Attorney Patrick Perfetti said. “This case was an outstanding example of community members who ‘saw something – saying something’ and Officer Peters of the Cortland City Police Department doing his job well.”

Graham was sentenced to five years in state prison in January 2021.