Police find stolen firearm, four people arrested | News

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Police said four people conspired to hide a gun stolen from a Hughesville store in September.

Joshua Robert Queen, 22, Bryan Anthony Peachlum II, 23, Michael Wayne Swank, 36, and Kelly Lynn Morey, 36, were all charged in connection with a stolen Kimber 9mm pistol. According to Detective Tyson Havens, the gun was found buried in a wooded area near Almond Street.

Investigators received a tip in late October about a stolen firearm that Peachlum came into possession of, Havens said. Police were given permission to search a home in the 1600 block of Catherine Street for Peachlum and the gun, Havens added. They found marijuana, which Havens said was enough to sign a search warrant for the home.

Officers were unable to find Peachlum or the gun, but received a tip shortly after leaving the home, Havens said. They were told the gun was in a vacuum cleaner in the basement. The investigators went back to the house.

Investigators were unable to find the weapon a second time. Havens talked to Swank about the gun. According to the report, Swank lied to Havens about the gun and was placed in handcuffs. Swank allegedly told police that Queen took the gun after she left with it, saying “she was done for.”

According to the complaint, Queen was taken into custody outside the home on Catherine Street at 5 p.m. Queen told police the gun was in Shaw Place Park after he was read his Miranda rights. Havens and Williamsport Police Officer Gino Caschera discovered the firearm buried in a shallow hole in a wooded area near the 1600 block of Almond Street.

Caschera found a Kimber Solo Carry DC pistol and magazine. Queen allegedly told police the gun was in Swank’s basement. The gun was reported stolen from the Blued Barrel Gun Store in Hughesville earlier this year.

The next day, police contacted Swank to talk to him about the gun. Swank came clean and told police that Morey came to his house and said she “had to take care of something.” She then took the gun into the basement and put it in a toolbox. Swank allegedly moved the gun from the toolbox to a vacuum under the basement stairs. Swank said after the NEU investigators left the first time, he called Queen, who then retrieved the gun from the house.

Morey was interviewed by police the same day. She admitted to retrieving the gun after Peachlum called her. According to Havens, Peachlum asked her to get rid of the gun. She claimed to have seen Peachlum in possession of “multiple” firearms at her home, Havens added.

Morey and Queen are both charged with theft, tampering with evidence and carrying firearms without a license. Both are free on $50,000 unsecured bail, set by Judge Aaron Buechle as part of a preliminary arraignment.

Peachlum, who was charged last year with bribing minors and fleeing police, is charged with theft and prohibited possession of a firearm. He was originally held on $50,000 bail, but the bail type was later changed so that he is now free on $50,000 unsecured bail.

Swank is charged with receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence. He is free on $15,000 unsecured bail.

All four defendants are scheduled to appear for hearings in December.

Joshua Robert Queen docket

Bryan Anthony Peachlum docket

Michael Wayne Swank file sheet

Kelly Lynn Morey docket

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