Woman Allegedly Steals Guns, Drugs Found in Purse

A Towamencin woman — who is headed to county trial on prostitution and numerous heroin possession charges in Lansdale — is also headed to county trial on felony theft and felony receiving stolen property charges, as well as cocaine possession charges.

Kristen Stephen, 29, of the 200 block of Hickory Court, allegedly broke into her boyfriend's home and stole his gun in order to pay off drug debts. Stephen allegedly stole a gun at a previous date for the same reason, police said.

While investigating the theft at the home on Oct. 6, Stephen allegedly gave permission to Towamenicn Police to search her purse, where needles and other paraphernalia used for heroin were found in her possession, according to the affidavit.

At a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Stephen, who also resides with her parents on the 1500 block of Fort Washington Avenue, Upper Dublin, had two felony counts of theft by unlawful taking and two felony counts of receiving stolen property upheld for county arraignment Jan. 2, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.

Stephen had two counts of possession of a controlled substance withdrawn at the hearing, as well as two counts of use/possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records. One misdemeanor count of use/possession of drug paraphernalia was held over for court for Jan. 2, 2013.

Bail was posted on the drug offenses, but Stephen remains incarcerated on $5,000 cash bail on the theft charges. If Stephen posts bail, she must be admitted to an inpatient drug facility and remain there until trial, according to court documents.

According to an affidavit, on July 27, 2012, a man residing on the 100 block of Hunsberger Drive, Limerick, reported to Limerick Police that a .22-caliber Walthier handgun was missing from his bedroom closet.

The man is in a relationship with Stephen and she had been to his residence several times, according to court records.

On Aug. 2, 2012, Limerick Police discussed the theft with the man, according to court records. Police determined there was no forced entry, and Stephen was a suspect, but denied involvement, according to court records.

On Sept. 23, 2012, Stephen's boyfriend moved to a condo on the 200 block of Hickory Court, police said. Stephen resided with him at this address, police said.

Prior to Oct. 6, 2012, Stephen allegedly disclosed to her boyfriend that she did steal his gun in order to satisfy a debt to someone, according to court records. Stephen allegedly told him that she could buy back the gun, according to court records.

The boyfriend did not disclose that information to Limerick Police, police said, as he cared for Stephen and did not want to see in in further trouble. Stephen already had an open court case for alleged prostitution, police said.

On Oct. 6, at 8:40 p.m., the boyfriend called Towamencin Police for a burglary at his Hickory Court home.

A loaded Springfield 1911 .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol was stolen from a locked file cabinet in an office, according to court records.

An investigation suggested that the burglary may have been staged, police said.

A distinct boot imprint was found on a couch located underneath a damaged window in the office, according to court records.

Stephen appeared at the home and she was allegedly wearing boots that matched the imprint on the couch, according to court records.

Stephen was interviewed at Towamencin Township Police Department, where she allegedly admitted to stealing the gun in Limerick to satisfy a debt, according to court records. She said she stole the gun on the insistence of her boyfriend, but the boyfriend denied that was the case, according to court records.

Further investigation revealed a witness saw a female matching Stephen's description at the rear of the Hickory Court home at the time of the offense, according to court records.

A second woman, who is an associate of Stephen, stated to police that Stephen allegedly admitted to stealing the gun on Oct. 6 to sell for money, according to court records.

Let's rewind for a minute to when Stephen appeared at her boyfriend's home the night of the reported burglary.

According to court records, a Towamencin Township officer was assisting another officer on the burglary investigation and was assigned to watch Stephen, according to court records, due to her alleged nervous behavior and drug history.

As the officer was speaking to Stephen, he noticed she was continuously acting in a nervous manner, according to court records. The officer asked Stephen if she had weapons or needles on her or inside her purse, according to court records.

Stephen allegedly said, "I might, but they old. And I probably have a knife," according to court records. "Check my purse."

Stephen allegedly pushed her purse toward the officer "as an additional offer to look inside," according to court records.

A switchblade knife and several syringes were found in Stephen's purse, as well as a glass pipe used to smoke suspected crack, a metal pipe, a Ziploc-brand bag with suspected cocaine, and a cellophane wrapper with suspected rock cocaine, according to court records.

A piece of plastic with a white powder substance was allegedly found inside Stephen's right front pocket of her jeans, according to court records.