Brookline man facing 39 charges stemming from gun cache

Richard Becker. Photo courtesy Brookline Police.

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

A Brookline man will be arraigned Thursday morning on 39 charges stemming from a cache of firearms police allegedly found in his home Monday.

Police had anticipated Richard L. Becker, 55, of 181 Harvard St., would be arraigned in Brookline District Court Wednesday, but he was not released from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center until 1 p.m.and the court date was rescheduled.

Brookline Police said Wednesday that the charges against Becker include multiple counts of possession of a large capacity rifle, possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of firearms without a license and possession of a silencer.

Police discovered the cache of 36 firearms at Becker’s home Monday after checking on his well being and that of his 87-year-old father Gerald Becker. Police then found out that Gerald Becker was living in an assisted living home. Police also determined Richard Becker was wanted on two arrest warrants for failure to appear for jury duty. During their investigation, police learned Becker’s firearm identification card had also expired in 1998 and he was still believed to be in possession of a number of firearms.

He was arrested outside his home Monday, and immediately fell down with an undisclosed illness and was taken to the hospital, according to police.

Also Wednesday, Brookline Finance Director Stephen Cirillo said Becker’s father, Gerald Becker, who owns 181 Harvard St., hasn’t paid taxes on the property in nine years. The family owes the town about $160,000, and Cirillo said the town will seize the property, with an assessed value of more than $1.2 million, on Aug. 2 if the taxes are not paid by then.