TRENTON — Brian Aitken, who was convicted of illegally possessing three handguns he had legally purchased in Colorado, will be out of prison in time for Christmas.

Gov. Chris Christie commuted Aitken's sentence Monday, from seven years to time served, according to an order signed by the governor. It was Christie's first commutation since taking office almost a year ago.

"We are overjoyed at the news," his younger brother Robert Aitken said in an e-mail. "It's been an extremely emotional time and we all had our own doubts at one time or another I'm sure. I was hoping for the best but preparing for the worst -- for this to be the first battle of a long war to get him out of jail."

In 2009, Aitken was arrested for possessing three handguns and ammunition — the guns were unloaded — after state police found them in the trunk of his car. Aitken was visiting his mother in Burlington County when she became concerned about his well-being and called the police.

Aitken, who had recently moved from Colorado where he bought the guns, faced felony charges the same as if he had used the guns to commit a crime. Supporters of Aitken began a Facebook campaign to get his sentence commuted.

The Aitken family, awaiting Brian's daily call Monday night, had decided to let his girlfriend Jenna give him the good news.

"We all want to be the ones to tell him — but that just can't be," Robert Aitken said. "We are eagerly awaiting his daily call so we can experience this together with him, even if its just over the phone."

Christie's office wouldn't elaborate on the decision to commute Aitken's sentence.

"The governor has reviewed all the facts of Brian Aitken's case and has commuted his sentence to time served," Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said. "Considering both Aitken's offense and punishment, the governor believes this is the most compassionate and just solution."

Brian Aitken's attorney Evan Nappen said they will continue to pursue appeals based on the legal elements of the case.

Christie "is a hero to gun owners across the nation," Nappen said.

Aitken had appealed to Christie for commutation after being sentenced in August. He could have been paroled in three years. According to the commutation order, Aitken will be released as "soon as administratively possible."

Aitken is being held at the Mid-State Correctional Facility Annex in Wrightstown, located on Fort Dix. He's expected to be released today, said corrections spokeswoman Deirdre Fedkenheuer.

The last criminal commutation handed down was by former Gov. Jon Corzine for Quincy Spruell, who had been convicted in a 1985 murder that many legal experts later argued he couldn't have committed. It was one of 14 commutations issued by Corzine on his last full day in office in January.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correctly state the number of handguns found in Aitken's trunk. There were three.

By Ginger Gibson and Chris Megerian/Statehouse Bureau Staff

Previous coverage from Star-Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine:

• Mulshine: Gun advocates ask if Christie's a straight shooter

• Mulshine: More on the Brian Aitken front: Christie considering a pardon