A Rockwood man was arrested this week on a theft charge in relation to guns that were stolen from his stepfather’s house last month.

Jason F. Oliver, 39, of Rockwood, was arrested after guns that were reported stolen from the Village Road house on Sept. 22 were pawned in Palmyra and Bangor, according to a press release from the Somerset County Sheriff Department.

Additional Images

Contributed photo Guns that were stolen from a Rockwood homeowner are displayed in the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department. The homeowner’s stepson, Jason Oliver, was charged with the theft.

OLIVER

He told police he needed the money from the guns for medical bills, Chief Deputy Dale Lancaster said in the relese.

Oliver was arrested Tuesday at the department and charged with theft by unauthorized taking, a class B felony. The value of the guns is estimated at $10,000, Lancaster said.

The homowner, who the sheriff department didn’t identify in the press release, reported 14 rifles and shotguns missing after he returned from a trip out of state.

Oliver was staying at the residence while the homeowner was gone, according to the release and the investigation determined he was “involved in the theft of the firearms,” the release said.

While reviewing pawn shop records, Detective Michael Ross noted that the pawn records indicated someone from Rockwood was pawning firearms in Palmyra and Bangor, determined by Ross to be Oliver.

All of the stolen firearms were recovered.

“Oliver was cooperative with the investigation, and with assisting in the recovery of the remaining firearms,” the press release said. He was released from the Somerset County Jail on bail and will appear in court Dec. 3.

Related Stories