Athens County Sheriff's deputies are searching for 30 to 40 guns that an Albany, Ohio, resident is accused of stealing from Charles Calendine, a gun collector in Athens County.
Michael White, 18, charged with burglary and grand theft, allegedly broke into Calendine's home on Dec. 12. He then sold the guns to pawn shops and people in various places - including those charged with murdering Donnie Putnam in New Marshfield.
White confessed that he had stolen the guns in an interview with Deputy Shannon Sheridan, Sheridan said.
Deputies have recovered three guns from White's house, another from the shooting in New Marshfield last week and one from Ohio Valley Trading and Exchange in Athens, Sheridan said.
The exact number of guns still missing is unclear because Calendine had so many guns, Sheridan said, adding that the guns could still be in the wrong hands and that people could absolutely carry out violent actions with them.
(Guns) were sold to people and they proved they could do bad things with them
he said.
Sheriff Pat Kelly said that his department is unsure where the weapons are at this point.
If any were sold to pawn shops, deputies would know because employees enter serial numbers into a database so deputies can identify whether weapons are stolen, Sheridan said.
Calendine's guns range from shotguns to high-powered rifles and muzzleloaders that he had collected or inherited from his father. The stolen guns are worth between $3,000 and $6,000, Sheridan said.
Residents need to make sure that the weapons they have in their homes are in secure places Kelly said.
White, who is in custody with a $25,000 bond, will face a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Monday, according to Athens County Municipal Court documents.
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Caitlin McGlade
