Three men were arrested Friday in connection with the theft of guns from Sportsman Rod & Gun in Elizabethtown.
Elizabethtown Police Department arrested 21 year-old Robert Carter III of Vine Grove on a charge of complicity to commit first-degree burglary.
The store, in a shopping center off Sycamore Street, was broken into around 1 a.m. December 15. Carter and another individual forced their way into the building, according to authorities. An arrest citation states 24 guns were taken in the break-in.
Surveillance video from the day before the theft reportedly shows Carter at the location.
According to the arrest citation, two of the stolen guns were recovered in an apartment where Carter was found.
The citation says Carter admitted to police he had knowledge of the burglary, but denied any involvement.
Complicity to first-degree burglary is a Class B felony punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison, if convicted.
Ferrante Salley Jr., 20, and Larry Ware, 18, both of Radcliff, also were arrested Friday by Elizabethtown Police Department. They both are charged with receiving stolen property — firearm; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; and technical violations of probation.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Shane Young said the stolen firearms in their possession were some of the guns stolen from Sportsman Rod & Gun.
The arrest citations state Salley and Ware were both at Salley’s residence on Crockett Court in Radcliff when a search warrant was executed and the two stolen guns were found.
Both men admitted to knowing the guns were in the residence and that they were stolen, according to the citation. Salley was seen on video in possession of the recovered weapons.
If found guilty, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon is a Class C felony punishable by five to 10 years in prison. Receiving stolen property is a Class D felony punishable by one to five years, if convicted.
The three men are scheduled for video arraignment Tuesday morning in Hardin District Court. They are being held at the Hardin County Detention Center in lieu of $75,000 cash bonds.
George Huffman, supervisory special agent and public information officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Louisville, said the bureau along with cooperation from Elizabethtown Police Department, Radcliff police and Kentucky State Police conducted operations involving the case Friday.
A similar burglary took place December 3 at T-Box Tactical in Vine Grove. Store management there said several handguns were stolen.
Huffman said the burglaries are being investigated as two separate crimes right now.
Anyone with information about either local gun store burglary can contact ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (800-283-4867). Tips also can be submitted by going to www.reportit.com. All information can be given anonymously and all calls will be kept confidential.
Source: NE
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