Bucks Co. Man Who Stole And Sold 5 Handguns Could Serve 15 Years: DA

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A 25-year-old man will serve between six and 15 years in state prison after stealing guns from several unlocked cars in Upper Bucks County, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office announced Monday.

Bobby Andrew Johnson, formerly of Richlandtown, pleaded guilty in November to five counts each of person not to possess a firearm, illegal sale or transfer of firearms and receiving stolen property, three counts of theft by unlawful taking and two counts of theft from a motor vehicle.

He appeared before Commons Pleas Judge Theodore C. Fritsch on Monday and was sentenced to six to 15 years in state prison. Johnson was also ordered to pay $1,785 in restitution, complete his GED and take decision-making courses.

Johnson committed the thefts from April 2018 until September 2018 and sold five stolen handguns, the DA's office said.

On April 7 and April 8 of that year, Pennsylvania State Police took reports of several cars being entered throughout Richland town. Among the items taken was a Beretta handgun, police reported.

Then, police continued to receive reports of stolen guns in the area: on Aug. 4 in Richlandtown, on Aug. 11 in Bethlehem; on Sep. 17 in Bedminster.

The gun stolen in Bedminster was found on Dec. 18, 2018 at the home of a person under 18 in Milford, the DA's office said. That person told police that he bought the gun from a man living in Richland Township.

On May 9, 2019, Quakertown Police Sgt. Joshua Mallery served a warrant at the man’s house in Richland Township and found another gun, which had been reported stolen out of Quakertown in July of 2018.

The investigation led to Johnson, who admitted during a police interview that he took items out of cars from random areas and developments, making about $30,000 in proceeds, which he shared with his getaway driver, the DA's office said.

The DA said Johnson also admitted to selling several guns to the man in Richland Township.

Because of a 2015 felony burglary conviction, Johnson was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

This case was investigated by the Sgt. Joshua Mallery and the Quakertown Borough Police Department and Trooper Christopher Cleveland and the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the Bethlehem Police Department and the Bedminster Police Department.

Deputy District Attorney Thomas C. Gannon prosecuted this case.

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