Cambria County Man Sentenced To Probation With Home Detention For Possessing Weapon With Removed Serial Number

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Blandburg, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to five years probation, the first 12 months of which must be served by conditions of home confinement, on his conviction of unlawful possession of a firearm which had the serial number removed, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Aaron C. Spanik, 35.

According to information presented to the court, on Nov. 3, 2011, Spanik unlawfully possessed a Kahr Arms pistol which had the manufacturer's serial number removed and which had been shipped in interstate or foreign commerce.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Allegheny Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Spanik.

According to Mr. Hickton, Spanik was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent, deter, and prosecute gun crime.