With all the regulations put on top of the stress of travel, it is easy to forget some things. A vacationer visiting the St. Petersburg area was arrested on felony charges of carrying a concealed weapon at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport last week. The man forgot that he had a pistol in his bag, and security found it with the rest of his belongings at a security checkpoint.

Because of the intense security involved in air travel, the man was arrested immediately and taken into custody. According to news reports, the man cooperated with authorities the entire time, and was apologetic saying that he simply forgot the gun was in his bag.

This case is extremely serious. Given the heightened security around the country, this case could gain a lot of media exposure, potentially ruining the man's reputation for a mistake. The fact that he was charged with a felony is another reason to take this case so serious. A felony usually comes with a longer time served in prison.

If someone is facing felony charges, they would be wise to speak with a St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney. A criminal defense attorney can help a person in this situation gather evidence in their defense, and make sure that the person is treated fairly and with respect throughout the legal process. It would be wise to consult with an attorney before giving too much information to authorities. They will be able to advise you on what information you have to give to authorities and what questions you don't have to answer.

Source: Patch, "Indiana Man Arrested, Cited With Gun Charge at St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport," Lee Diekemper, Jan. 26, 2012