Telford Man Waives Felony Firearm Ownership Charges
Samuel Carmello Sofia, 36, allegedly purchased a rifle for Emilio Sciortino, the Telford man who allegedly held his wife hostage in January
Emilio Sciortino cannot own a firearm.
Sciortino was denied the purchase of a gun at a Bucks County gun shop in August 2011.
Samuel Carmello Sofia can own a firearm.
Sofia allegedly purchased a Savage Axis .30-06 from a Bucks County gun shop in August 2011 - for Sciortino.
Now, Sofia, 36, of the 300 block of Kimberwick Court, Telford, faces three felony charges for arraignment at county court on April 11.
Sofia waived all charges at a brief preliminary hearing before District Judge Kenneth Deatelhauser in Souderton at 1 p.m. Sofia was represented by attorney Doug Johnson.
Police allege Sofia committed a Class Three felony of providing false information on firearm ownership, and another for giving the gun to Sciortino after buying it.
Sofia also faces one felony charge of criminal conspiracy, police said.
Police said he wanted to be prepared for snipers, who were responding to a report of a hostage situation. The police didn't know what to prepare for, as minutes earlier, Sciortino fired four warning shots from his window.
All the while, his wife was prone on the floor, hands and arms covering her head.
In the end, Sciortino let his wife walk out of their home. He then surrendered to police.
During an interview with police Jan. 10, Sciortino was asked to give a verbal inventory of his guns. According to the affidavit, Sciortino told police he had a Marlin rifle, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun and a "friend's .30-06 rifle that he wanted to try out."
During a search, police recovered three guns, each with a round in the chamber:
- A Remington 12-gauge, loaded with five rounds, with magazine plug removed
- A Marlin Remington .35-caliber lever-action rifle, loaded with three rounds, firing pin hammer back
- A Savage .30-06-caliber bolt-action riifle, with a bipod and telescopic sight, fully loaded detached magazine
Sciortino told police that he wanted to buy a rifle, but he was denied. According to the affidavit, a Montgomery County gun shop checked Sciortino's identity. After said check, Sciortino was denied the purchase of the rifle and told he was prohibited from making the purchase.
Later in the evening, on Jan. 10, police spoke with Sciortino's wife. She told police a story of how Sciortino was listening to everything on the scanner and how he told her the SWAT would have a sniper, according to the affidavit.
The victim told police the black .30-06 her husband loaded up belonged to him and not to Sofia, according to the affidavit. She there, she said, when he was denied the purchase and the gun was taken out of his grip by the clerk.
She said Sciortino asked her to buy a rifle for him, but she refused, police said.
Sofia bought the Savage rifle, the victim told police. The affidavit said that, in spite of the victim warning Sofia not to do so, Sofia purchased it for Sciortino.
Furthermore, the victim said Sciortino had the gun modified and customized to suit him, according to the affidavit.
On Jan. 16, Sofia showed up to Telford Police because he wanted to clear up the matter of a .30-06 rifle that police recovered, according to the affidavit.
Sofia proffered that he bought the rifle as a back-up hunting rifle and that he loaned it to Sciortino, according to the affidavit.
Sofia said Sciortino could use the rifle but that Sciortino had to return it in the same condition, according to the affidavit.
Police said Sofia could not provide an accurate description of the rifle; Sofia failed to mention the bipod and sight, according to the affidavit.
"It has a synthetic stock and, I believe, a stainless barrel," Sofia was quoted as saying to police.
Sofia also told police he had not seen the rifle since December 2011, according to the affidavit.
Police said when Sofia was pressed for the truth, he said he purchased the rifle for Sciortino to use.
When asked if he was warned not to buy the rifle by the victim, he said he doesn't pay attention to what the victim says, according to the affidavit.
Police visited three firearm dealers in Bucks and Montgomery counties. Police discovered that Sciortino was denied a purchase of a Savage Axis .30-06-caliber on Aug. 16, 2011. Police also discovered Sofia bought a Savage Axis .30-06 on Aug. 18, 2011.
The victim was interviewed a second time. She told police that she recalled a conversation between Sofia and Sciortino wherein Sciortino asked Sofia to buy a rifle for him, according to the affidavit.
The victim told Sofia not to buy it and she warned Sofia's wife the same, according to the affidavit.
She told police Sofia was well aware of the fact that Sciortino had been denied the purchase of a rifle and told Sofia that he could get into a great deal of trouble, according to the affidavit.
