Brannon Irvin

Butler police arrested a city man Thursday for allegedly having a stolen handgun at his home on American Avenue.

A probation officer discovered the .380-caliber pistol in July during a compliance check at Brannon J. Irvin's house, police said.

The gun, according to investigators, was found loaded and in a kitchen drawer of the home where he lives with his wife and four young children.

Irvin, 31, was arrested and arraigned on a felony charge of receiving stolen property and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment. He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bond following arraignment.

Police said they were notified of the probation officer's finding July 2. A detective later learned that the pistol had been reported stolen on Aug. 14, 2018, from the owner's car in Youngstown, Ohio, according to charging documents.

Irvin allegedly admitted that the gun did not belong to him.

“He believes that the pistol was placed in the drawer by a friend of a friend a few days prior to the discovery,” Detective Lt. Chad Rensel said in his affidavit.

The defendant, however, was allegedly unable to provide police with the name of or phone number for the friend.

Rensel questioned Irvin's account, and also advised him he was “lucky” that none of his children, ages 6, 4, 2 and a newborn, had found it in the silverware drawer.

Irvin's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9. Online court records do not indicate if he has an attorney.