Tyrone man guilty of firearm charge

Gardner tried to purchase gun despite previous criminal record

CLEARFIELD -- A Tyrone man will serve time in state prison for conspiring to obtain a firearm, assaulting an inmate and threatening to kill a woman.

Police say in July, Collin Bradley Gardner, 24, gave Jordan Matthew Wolfe, 24, also of Tyrone, $600 to purchase a gun from a Clearfield business.

According to the affidavit, they went into the business where Wolfe filled out the appropriate paperwork and purchased the gun, which he then gave to Gardner.

In his interview with investigators, Wolfe said Gardner told him he couldn't purchase the gun himself because he had "court cases pending." After the issues were resolved, Gardner said they could then transfer the ownership of the weapon to him.

Reportedly, Gardner is not eligible to buy a gun because of his previous criminal record.

Gardner pleaded guilty before Clearfield County Judge Paul Cherry to felony conspiracy-firearm ownership and felony conspiracy-sale/transfer of firearm during sentencing court Monday.

He was sentenced to one to six years in state prison.

The investigation in this case began after State College police received a report of a man driving around, waving a gun in the borough. The man was later identified as Gardner, and the gun and ammunition in the car were traced to the Clearfield business.

Wolfe faces similar charges and has already signed a plea agreement, according to online court documents. He is scheduled for sentencing May 17.

In the second case, Gardner pleaded guilty to simple assault and misdemeanor strangulation in relation to his actions at the Clearfield County Jail in November.

For this, he was given a one- to two-year concurrent state prison sentence.

According to that affidavit, Gardner struck the victim, his cellmate, in the face, breaking his nose, stomped him and choked him causing him to be transported to Penn Highlands Clearfield.

Afterward, Gardner asked him not to tell anyone. The victim told him that would be difficult, since he was "bleeding and crying on the floor."

When a corrections officer found the victim, the victim wouldn't say what had happened until he was taken to the nurse for treatment.

In the third case, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor terroristic threats for which he received another concurrent one- to two-year state prison sentence.

According to the criminal complaint, Gardner called the woman in June, saying, "I am not staying locked up. I am coming to the house to get my stuff no matter what. If I have to bring a gun and kill someone, I will."