Bucks Man Pleads Guilty to Buying Gun For Friend Who Later Shot at Police
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Telford, Pa. man has admitted in court that he purchased a rifle from a Bucks County gun dealer and then illegally gave that gun to a friend who was later involved in a standoff with police during a domestic incident at his home.
Samuel Sofia pleaded guilty today in Montgomery County Court to providing false information during the purchase of a gun, and conspiracy. Both are felonies.
Now, the 37-year-old man is facing a maximum of 14 years behind bars, although the guidelines call for much less.
Prosecutors say Sofia bought the Savage Axis bolt-action rifle for his friend who was turned down just two days earlier.
Prosecutor Nathan Schadler says he'll be asking for jail time for Sofia.
"Quite often we look at these cases and people label them as 'victimless crimes,' but what we've seen recently in the news -- and in this case, tragically -- they are not. And they can have tragic consequences."
Sofia gave the rifle to another man who later took a woman hostage in his Telford home and fired shots in the direction of police. That man is now awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to assault and weapons charges.
Police say the rifle Sofia bought was found inside the house but was not the gun that was fired.
