Zhou Libo (2nd L, Front) leaves after a court session at the Nassau County Court, New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2018. The Preliminary Hearing of the case of Chinese comedian Zhou Libo, who is facing weapon and drug charges, will be held on March 15, 2018, a judge announced on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Preliminary Hearing of the case of Chinese comedian Zhou Libo, who is facing weapon and drug charges, will be held on March 15, 2018, a judge announced on Thursday.

Patricia A. Harrington, the judge in charge of the case, made the announcement on the case's latest court session at the Nassau County Court, New York.

Zhou, together with his wife and lawyer, appeared at the court session Thursday, is charged with illegal possession of a handgun, possession of a controlled substance identified as crystal methamphetamine and driving while using a cellphone. If convicted, he may be facing a sentence up to 15 years of jail.

On January 19, 2017, Zhou was stopped by the police in the town of Lattingtown, the United States, for his abnormal driving behavior. The police later found a black pistol holster, a loaded pistol, and two transparent plastic bags containing drugs in his vehicle.

Zhou was arrested on the spot and was released on bail the next day.