CLEARFIELD – On Wednesday two Philipsburg men accused of stealing guns and other items waived their rights to preliminary hearings.
Richard Buchanon is charged with burglary, criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, four counts of theft by unlawful taking, four counts of receiving stolen property, criminal trespass, two counts of theft by unlawful taking and two counts of receiving stolen property.
Michael Phillips is charged with burglary, criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on April 3 police began a burglary investigation. The alleged victims in the case told police that the following items had been removed from their residence:
-A Sig 556 assault rifle
-An AK-47 assault rifle
-A Mossberg .12 gauge pump shotgun
-Bermington Small Arms 7mm bolt action rifle
-A Panasonic 42-inch plasma flat screen TV
-A Dell Inspiron Laptop computer
A bottle of pre scri ption pills containing five Hydrocodone pills
On April 9 a man was interviewed regarding Phillips. The man said that Phillips sent him a text on April 5 asking him if he was looking to buy any guns. Phillips reportedly told him he had a 7mm rifle and a .12 gauge shotgun that he would sell to him for $200. The man told police the guns were probably stolen because Phillips was using heroin again. He told police that in follow-up text, Phillips offered him the guns for $120. In a third text Phillips reportedly told the man he would sell him the guns for $100. The man never bought the guns.
On April 11 another man was interviewed and told police that he was contacted by Phillips on April 5. He said that Phillips asked him if he was interested in buying two guns. He said Phillips arrived at his residence with a Mossberg .12 gauge pump-action shotgun and a Bermington Small Arms 7mm bolt action rifle. The man told police that Phillips told him the guns were his (Phillips) and that he was only selling them because he needed the money. The man paid $120 for both guns. He stated that he later heard about the burglary and that he contacted police. Troopers took possession of the weapons and placed them into evidence.
The alleged victim examined both guns and identified them as the stolen items.
On April 17 Phillips was interviewed by police. According to the affidavit he told police that on April 3 between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. he and Buchanon went to the alleged victims’ residence to steal property. He said he dropped Buchanon off at the residence while he went and turned aournd. He said he parked in the driveway and that Buchanon exited the residence with the guns. He said he helped Buchanon load the guns into the car then they both entered the residence. He said he took the TV and that Buchanon grabbed the laptop. He said he did not see any pre scri ption pills so Buchanon must have taken them.
Phillips went on to tell police that they left and went straight to northeast Philadelphia and traded the AK-47, Sig, TV and laptop to a guy for eight bundles of heroin. He said the guy would not buy the other two guns so he sold them to one of the men that police interviewed.
During the interview Phillips told police that the burglary was his idea.