Police: Blair County man bought heroin with stolen guns, jewelry

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Hollidaysburg man is facing 23 felony charges after allegedly stealing several guns and pieces of jewelry.

Joshua Shepherd, 45, was charged after police were called to a residence in Frankstown Township on reports of a theft of firearms, jewelry and unauthorized debit/credit card transactions on June 15.

The victim, Shepherd’s father, told police that a Mossberg 500 Shotgun 12 gauge, Keltec PLR-16 .223 Pistol, unknown make and model .22 caliber revolver, a .380 caliber pistol and a .30-30 firearm had been stolen. He had also told police that his son had stolen the guns, according to the criminal complaint.

Shepherd’s father also told police that he had been in contact with a person who knew Shephard, and this person allegedly told him that Shepherd had sold the guns along with some of his mother’s jewelry for heroin.

Police were able to talk to Shepherd at his father’s residence, where he allegedly told police, “Okay it has been bothering me. The guy’s been in jail. He is in jail right now.” He then claimed that he had sold three firearms to a man for heroin.

“I traded him the one pump shotgun,” Shepherd allegedly told police. He continued to explain that the man was supposed to give the guns back but he went to jail. During the conversation, police noted in the charges that they found a metal smoking device, which Shepherd said he used to smoke heroin.

On July 11, police questioned Shepherd again, where he allegedly said that the first gun he recalled stealing was a Keltec Pistol at the beginning of March and then proceeded to trade it for 20 bags of heroin. Shepherd then claimed that he stole multiple other guns and exchanged them for more bags of heroin, the charges read.

Shepherd allegedly said that he had also stolen a diamond ring, which belonged to his late mother, in April or May and proceeded to also trade that for 10-20 bags of heroin.

On July 12, police spoke with the owners of a jewelry store, who claimed that Shepherd had come in eleven different times to sell various items and jewelry.

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Police were also able to review text messages that Shepherd had sent to the man he previously referenced selling to. In the messages, Shepherd is seen sending pictures of guns and other merchandise, attempting to sell them for bags of heroin, according to the complaint.

Shepherd was also determined to be a person not to be in possession of a firearm after a conviction from 2006 for a felony burglary as well as one from 2016 for possession of a controlled substance. It was also noted in the charges that Shepherd does not and has not possessed a license to carry a firearm.

Shepherd is now facing five felony charges of theft, seven felony charges of possession of firearm prohibited, four felony charges of criminal use of a communication facility, four felony charges of firearm ownership and other related charges.

He is currently in the Blair County Prison after being unable to post his $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 13.

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