MONROE - Firearms stolen during recent burglaries of homes in Browntown and Brodhead have been connected to an illegal gun-dealing case involving four teenagers, with felony charges filed Tuesday against one.
Maximilian Spartacus Waller, 19, Monroe, is charged in Green County Circuit Court with six Class H felony counts of receiving a stolen firearm from a child. He also faces a Class A misdemeanor charge that he altered the identity of one of the firearms by scratching off its serial number.
The charges come after an investigation into a late-night burglary last week at a home in Browntown and a similar burglary in Brodhead, according to District Attorney Craig Nolen.
Of the firearms recovered in the case, five were stolen during the Browntown burglary and two were stolen in Brodhead. Two other firearms seized in the investigation have not yet been reported stolen, Nolen said.
Police are investigating two 16-year-old boys in connection to the burglaries but no charges have been filed, Nolen said. At least one of the boys is from Green County.
Waller is not charged in the burglary cases.
In a tearful interview with police, Waller described his role as "middleman." According to the criminal complaint, he told them he didn't take a cut from the gun sales and "doesn't want to be a drug dealer or a gun dealer."
He told police he is trying to go to college and eventually enlist in the army.
A fourth teenager involved in the case is a 17-year-old from Monroe. He paid a total of $500 to Waller and the two 16-year-olds for four firearms, according to the criminal complaint.
Nolen said the 17-year-old bought the guns for hunting and has been "fully cooperative" with law enforcement.
"He actually didn't commit any crime to my knowledge. He was likely not aware of where these guns were coming from," Nolen said.
Waller sold a Chiappa 1911 semi-automatic .22 caliber handgun to the 17-year-old for $200, according to the criminal complaint. The gun had been stolen during the Browntown burglary and had belonged to the resident's grandfather.
Other stolen guns in the case include a 9mm handgun, a Ruger .45 caliber handgun and .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and a Savage model 110 .30-06 rifle with a Bushnell scope.
State court records show no criminal record for Waller. His signature bond is set at $5,000 with the condition that he not possess firearms. His preliminary hearing is Oct. 27.
Maximilian Spartacus Waller, 19, Monroe, is charged in Green County Circuit Court with six Class H felony counts of receiving a stolen firearm from a child. He also faces a Class A misdemeanor charge that he altered the identity of one of the firearms by scratching off its serial number.
The charges come after an investigation into a late-night burglary last week at a home in Browntown and a similar burglary in Brodhead, according to District Attorney Craig Nolen.
Of the firearms recovered in the case, five were stolen during the Browntown burglary and two were stolen in Brodhead. Two other firearms seized in the investigation have not yet been reported stolen, Nolen said.
Police are investigating two 16-year-old boys in connection to the burglaries but no charges have been filed, Nolen said. At least one of the boys is from Green County.
Waller is not charged in the burglary cases.
In a tearful interview with police, Waller described his role as "middleman." According to the criminal complaint, he told them he didn't take a cut from the gun sales and "doesn't want to be a drug dealer or a gun dealer."
He told police he is trying to go to college and eventually enlist in the army.
A fourth teenager involved in the case is a 17-year-old from Monroe. He paid a total of $500 to Waller and the two 16-year-olds for four firearms, according to the criminal complaint.
Nolen said the 17-year-old bought the guns for hunting and has been "fully cooperative" with law enforcement.
"He actually didn't commit any crime to my knowledge. He was likely not aware of where these guns were coming from," Nolen said.
Waller sold a Chiappa 1911 semi-automatic .22 caliber handgun to the 17-year-old for $200, according to the criminal complaint. The gun had been stolen during the Browntown burglary and had belonged to the resident's grandfather.
Other stolen guns in the case include a 9mm handgun, a Ruger .45 caliber handgun and .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and a Savage model 110 .30-06 rifle with a Bushnell scope.
State court records show no criminal record for Waller. His signature bond is set at $5,000 with the condition that he not possess firearms. His preliminary hearing is Oct. 27.