Men charged in gun denial cases
State police last week charged five men in separate cases of illegally trying to buy guns at stores in Center and Summit townships.
The would-be gun buyers are accused of lying on state and federal gun-purchase application forms about prior misdemeanor convictions or pending charges that bar them from possessing firearms.
The suspects — Braden D. Flinspach, 24, of Mercer, Pa.; Raymond T. Miller, 48, of Center Township; Huy Ngoc Pham, 44, of Pittsburgh; Oscar R. Sasse Jr., 46, of Butler; and Michael E. Webb, 49, of Clay Township — all failed background checks when they tried to buy the firearms last year or in 2016.
The Pennsylvania Instant Check System identified the men as having provided false information on their gun purchase applications, according to court documents.
Four of the defendants are charged with a third-degree felony violation of the sales or transfer of firearms provision of the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act, as well as a third-degree misdemeanor unsworn falsification to authorities.
Flinspach is only charged by summons with unsworn falsification to authorities.
