June 8, 2010

TWO ROELAND PARK MEN SENTENCED IN OLATHE GUN SHOP BURGLARY

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Kenneth J. Sallaz, 25, Roeland Park, Kan., has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for burglarizing a gun shop in Olathe, Kan., U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today. Co-defendant Timothy Eker has been sentenced to 18 months.

Sallaz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. Eker pleaded guilty to one count of possession of stolen firearms.

In his plea, Sallaz admitted he conspired with co-defendants Eker and Joseph Stutsman to burglarize the Olathe Gun Shop on Jan. 9, 2009. Eker dropped Sallaz and Stutsman off at the store and parked nearby to act as a lookout. Sallaz and Stutsman entered through another business and crawled through the ceiling to get into the gun shop. During the burglary they tripped an alarm and left quickly with at least eight rifles and handguns.

Co-defendant Stutsman was sentenced to 27 months. Welch commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Shawnee Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead for their work on the case.