TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie on Friday announced he has pardoned a U.S. Army Ranger from Virginia who was arrested for illegal weapons possession while passing through New Jersey on vacation in 2014.

Capt. Robert Alan White was on vacation and en route to a timeshare in New Hampshire on Dec. 19, 2014 when he and his girlfriend stopped at a hotel in Montvale for the night, according to his attorney, Frank Pisano.

White had a valid Virginia Resident Concealed Handgun Permit, and was carrying his Springfield XD9 9 mm pistol with him.

In the morning, the couple hurriedly checked out, accidentally leaving White's unloaded pistol in the hotel in its case. They called the hotel upon realizing it, and returned to claim the firearm, only to find police waiting to arrest him for illegal possession of a firearm, according to Pisano.

New Jersey does not offer reciprocity of concealed carry permits, and state laws require that all firearms be transported unloaded and locked in a vehicle's trunk, or stored in a secure container.

White's firearm was unloaded, and stored in a secured case but he was charged with illegal possession of a firearm because he'd already checked out of the hotel when he left the gun behind, and was no longer lawfully transporting it, Pisano said.

White asked for and accepted pre-trial intervention instead of risking a trial, Pisano said, but also applied for a pardon from Christie in October 2015.

Last August while campaigning for president in Iowa, Christie announced that he would pardon any legal gun owner unwittingly ensnared by the Garden State's harsh gun transport statutes.

"Capt. White would like to thank the governor for his compassion in approving his petition for executive clemency after a meticulous investigation," said Pisano.

White has been on active duty in the U.S. Army for the past 19 years in, serving the elite Ranger unit.

"This takes a great weight off his shoulders, and he looks forward to serving out country in the coming years," Pisano added.

In April, the Christie administration moved to clarify parts of New Jersey's gun transport laws, which are some of the strictest in the nation, to allow Garden State gun owners with firearms in their car to stop at a gas station or to use a restroom on their way home from the gun range.

Democrats in the legislature are seeking to roll back the measure.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.