TRENTON -- A Gloucester County man and former Vineland Police Officer pleaded guilty in connection with the discovery of nearly 260 guns and half a million rounds of ammunition found at his home more than three years ago.

Brian Hinkel, 62, pleaded guilty Thursday in Superior Court to numerous offenses, including possession of an assault rifle and 21 counts of possession of a prohibited device. The plea comes after his January 2009 arrest, when State Police went to his house to question him on an unrelated investigation, but found numerous guns in plain view.

A search warrant was executed and officials found what they later said was the largest cache of ammunition they have ever seen.

He faces five years in state prison.