Man Who Stole Johann Christian Oerter Rifle Sentenced

[Okie Hog]

The rifle was stolen from a museum in 1971 and was recovered in 2019. The thief kept the rifle in his barn for nearly 50 years. Thomas Gavin was sentenced to one day in prison.


"A78-year-old Pennsylvania man who stole a rare Revolutionary-era rifle from a museum in 1971 was sentenced Tuesday to one day in prison and a year of home confinement, prosecutors said.

The man, Thomas Gavin, of Pottstown, was also fined $25,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $23,385.

He kept the flintlock rifle, made in 1775 by gunsmith Johann Christian Oerter, in his barn for 47 years after he stole it from a display case at the Valley Forge State Park Museum, officials said."

Man who stole Revolutionary-era rifle from museum decades ago sentenced to 1 day (msn.com)

 

[William Lincoln]

The upside is that he had a conscience. Paid a big fine.
Now Society has a great Rifle back to treasure. He
should be forgiven. He did not have to return it.

 

[Cattywompuss]

Provided he pays restitution, I agree. Ironically, even if it's felonies he can still own a longrifle

 

[waarp8nt]

I don't have much use for a thief. He got off light on the sentence. At least the fine and restitution was a fair amount. Now if he lives long enough to pay will be another thing.

 

[tnlonghunter]

The upside is that he had a conscience. Paid a big fine.
Now Society has a great Rifle back to treasure. He
should be forgiven. He did not have to return it.

I can't say the idea of a 78-year-old man going to prison is particularly appealing. But according to that article above, this was not an isolated event. Apparently, he stole several other antique guns during his life.

Granted, there are many crimes with much graver effects than antique theft, but I can't say I feel much sympathy for him, whatever the sentence is.

 

[Phil Coffins]

I have been the victim of gun theft twice (before I got a safe) . Family heirlooms the second time and there’s no compassion in my heart for him or his kind at any age!

 

[pwbsmokey]

Provided he pays restitution, I agree. Ironically, even if it's felonies he can still own a longrifle
[/QUOT It depends on the state. Each state varies

Provided he pays restitution, I agree. Ironically, even if it's felonies he can still own a longrifle
[

 

[PathfinderNC]

I looked for a photo of it- Is this the rifle?

 

[Okie Hog]

Gavin did not return the rifle. Rifle was sold the rifle to an antiques dealer who initially thought it was a replica.

More:

Rare Revolutionary-era rifle recovered nearly 50 years after brazen theft from Valley Forge (inquirer.com)

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I looked for a photo of it- Is this the rifle?
View attachment 106256

Don't know about the fines , but,,,,,, I'd be glad to do a day in the worse hell hole of a prison they could find to own that rifle for the next twenty years.

 

[smoothshooter]

The rifle was stolen from a museum in 1971 and was recovered in 2019. The thief kept the rifle in his barn for nearly 50 years. Thomas Gavin was sentenced to one day in prison.


"A78-year-old Pennsylvania man who stole a rare Revolutionary-era rifle from a museum in 1971 was sentenced Tuesday to one day in prison and a year of home confinement, prosecutors said.

The man, Thomas Gavin, of Pottstown, was also fined $25,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $23,385.

He kept the flintlock rifle, made in 1775 by gunsmith Johann Christian Oerter, in his barn for 47 years after he stole it from a display case at the Valley Forge State Park Museum, officials said."

Man who stole Revolutionary-era rifle from museum decades ago sentenced to 1 day (msn.com)

Did the thief preserve the rifle with oil or grease to preserve it’s condition.

 

[William Lincoln]

A nearly 80 year old man repents and returns ill gotten gains.
Then agrees to fines and restitution. I think he deserves mercy
and forgiveness. Society got the property back. Murderers have
gotten huge breaks who agree to reveal where they buried the
body. Considering the seriousness of the crime. Forgive and
move on. Maybe someone else, seeing this, will return another
treasure of antiquity. He could have sold or auctioned it in
another Country or put it on the burn pile.

 

[Spikebuck]

A nearly 80 year old man repents and returns ill gotten gains.
Then agrees to fines and restitution.

Where are you seeing that it states HE returned it. He SOLD it! The buyer, at the time, did not know it was a stolen original, but upon finding out turned it over. Also, he was sentenced to fines and restitution....that's different than offering or agreeing.

From the articles:

The theft might have remained unnoticed if not for a dealer who bought the rifle in 2018 and later realized its significance, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported when the artifact was returned to its rightful owners the following year.

But after purchasing the firearm, examining it, and realizing its historical significance, he contacted his attorneys. One of his lawyers, Albert Oehrle, linked the rifle to the theft at Valley Forge years earlier, Kinzle said. Along with attorney Jay Robert Stiefel, they contacted the FBI and began negotiating a handover.

 

[Miles42]

This is sad to read. So happy he had the heart to make it right. I am 78 and the only thing I want to Steal is a nap, LOL

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

I looked for a photo of it- Is this the rifle?
View attachment 106256

I don't think that's it. I found an older article released when the rifle was first found. It has a wooden patch box.

"The theft might have remained unnoticed if not for a dealer who bought the rifle in 2018 and later realized its significance, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported when the artifact was returned to its rightful owners the following year."
Rare Revolutionary-era rifle recovered nearly 50 years after brazen theft from Valley Forge

 

[PathfinderNC]

I don't think that's it. I found an older article released when the rifle was first found. It has a wooden patch box.

"The theft might have remained unnoticed if not for a dealer who bought the rifle in 2018 and later realized its significance, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported when the artifact was returned to its rightful owners the following year."
Rare Revolutionary-era rifle recovered nearly 50 years after brazen theft from Valley Forge

Yes your right. Thanks.

 

[Stykbow]

Glad it made it back to its rightful owner. Not sure how I feel about the sentence that was handed out. If the same sentence would be given if he was 28 I’d be ok with it. The age of an adult shouldn’t be a factor in sentencing.

 

[Dibbuk]

Did the thief preserve the rifle with oil or grease to preserve it’s condition.

The article says it was stored in a barn. I doubt it was kept under proper conditions. I have a couple of barn finds, and they are rough condition, even for modern manufacture.

 

[Spikebuck]

So happy he had the heart to make it right.

The only thing the thief made right was his wallet when he sold it to a guy who then later found out what it really was and, at his loss, turned it over to the FBI. I assume a portion of the forced restitution was to the honest guy that bought it and turned it in.

 

[Kingwalter]

I agree with others, he only made it right when he was caught and only paying fines because the court ordered it. Article also said he stole other guns from museums and sold those as well. Not much sympathy from me.