4 Defendants Now Sentenced In Vernon/Stafford Stolen Gun Case

VERNON, CT — All four defendants in a case of guns stolen from a Stafford pawn shop that made their way to Vernon have entered pleas and have been sentenced, a leading prosecutor said.

Tolland State's Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky said Friday that Damien Garcia, 35; Adam Miller, 30; Jonathan McEwen, 32; and Lawrence McEwen, 40; have now entered guilty pleas and have been sentenced in Rockville Superior Court for an incident that occurred at the Simon Says Pawn Shop in Stafford on Sept. 14, 2019.

Gedansky said that, after an extensive joint investigation with the Connecticut State Police, Vernon Police Department and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, officers were able to determine that Garcia, Miller, and the McEwen brothers conspired to steal seven handguns from the Simon Says and carried out the theft during the early morning hours of Sept. 14.

One firearm was recovered in Vernon, according to police records.

Gedansky said the investigation revealed that the remaining firearms were sold by the defendants in Hartford, but the guns were not recovered.

Miller entered a plea for conspiracy to commit stealing a firearm and was sentenced as part of a plea agreement May 5 to 36 months in prison.

Garcia entered a plea to theft of a firearm and was sentenced as part of a plea agreement on Sept. 9 to 60 months in prison.

Jonathan McEwen entered a plea to conspiracy to commit stealing a firearm as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced on Oct. 20 to 42 months in prison.

Lawrence McEwen entered a plea to conspiracy to commit stealing a firearm as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced on Oct. 29 to 54 months in prison.