CRANBERRY TWP — Three men in separate incidents are accused of attempting to buy firearms illegally at the Field and Stream store on Route 19.

All three are charged by township police with the illegal sale or transfer of a firearm and falsification to authorities.

Joseph L. Wilson, 42, of Zelienople was charged Thursday for a Dec. 2 incident in which police allege he neglected to admit a prior commitment to a mental institution on an application to buy a firearm. Such a commitment would preclude him from buying a firearm.

Police say Douglas Witas, 43, of Cranberry Township March 14 tried to buy a .357 revolver at the Field and Stream. Witas also failed to admit to an involuntary commitment to a mental institution in 2005, police say.

Witas told police he did not know he had been involuntarily committed in 2005. He was charged on Wednesday.

Matthew Klesen, 30, of Freeport allegedly falsified his application on March 29 when he tried to buy a 9 mm pistol at the Field and Stream.

Police say Klesen was denied the purchase when the background check revealed he was previously convicted of a misdemeanor that he has a possible penalty of imprisonment for more than a year, which prohibited him from buying a firearm.

Klesen allegedly denied knowing that misdemeanor prohibited him from buying a firearm. He also was charged on Wednesday.