Rimersburg Man Accused of Selling Stolen Guns Due Back in Court Tomorrow

Aly Delp

Aly Delp

Published August 5, 2019 4:25 am
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BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — A Rimersburg man who allegedly sold two guns that were stolen from a storage unit in Rose Township over four years ago is due in court again tomorrow.

Court documents indicate a hearing for 44-year-old Michael William Cowfer, of Rimersburg, that was continued on Thursday, July 25, is scheduled to resume at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6, in Jefferson County Court with Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak presiding.

Cowfer faces the following charges:

– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 2 (two counts)

Details of the case:

The charges stem from an investigation into two burglaries that occurred in Rose Township in May.

According to a criminal complaint, on May 16, 2015, and May 26, 2015, two separate burglaries were investigated by Punxsutawney-based State Police at a multi-unit storage facility located on State Route 36 in Rose Township, Jefferson County.

According to police, it was reported that 12 guns and a table saw were missing from one of the storage units and Olympia brand motorcycle gear was missing from the other, though neither unit showed signs of tampering from the outside. It was noted during the investigation that the wall separating the individuals’ units did not go completely to the ceiling, allowing for an individual to possible move between the units from within.

According to the complaint, on May 26, 2015, a .357 Ruger Black Hawk revolver taken during one of the burglaries was recovered by Clarion-based State Police, who were advised by the individual in possession of the gun that he had purchased it from (a known man).

On May 29, (the known man) brought a 12 gauge Mossberg shotgun to the Clarion-based State Police barracks and said he heard it was possibly stolen, so he brought it to the police to check. According to the complaint, when the serial number was run through NCIC, it was discovered the gun was one of the firearms stolen in Rose Township.

The complaint notes that in an interview, the known man said he purchased the shotgun and the Ruger from Michael Cowfer. He noted that he asked Cowfer about transferring the guns, and Cowfer told him they didn’t need to be transferred.

Cowfer was then interviewed on April 25, 2016.

According to the complaint, Cowfer confirmed he rented a storage unit in Rose Township from the beginning of 2015 until a few months prior to the interview. Cowfer went on to state that during the timeframe in question, when the burglary occurred, he was out of town for a significant amount of time, and said that his wife had lost one of their two keys to their storage unit and had no idea where she’d lost it.

The complaint notes that when asked about selling two of the stolen guns, Cowfer stated he didn’t know the known man who purchased them and he definitely didn’t sell any guns.

The charges were filed against Cowfer on Monday, June 17, in Judge Bazylak’s office.

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