By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR — A former Taylor police officer may face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of having stolen a shotgun from the department.
Andrew Voelkner, 42, was bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court on Monday by 23rd District Court Judge Geno Salomone on three counts: receiving and concealing a stolen firearm, a felony punishable by 10 years in prison; larceny of a firearm, a five-year felony; and felony firearm, a two-year mandatory sentence.
The shotgun in question had previously been issued to Cpl. Matthew Edwards, who was killed in the line of duty in July 2010.
Police Chief Mary Sclabassi said the weapon was not assigned to Voelkner and he did not have permission to have it in his possession.
“The shotgun was discovered in his possession during the investigation of a domestic dispute at his home in Farmington Hills,” Sclabassi said.
The discovery was made in January, Sclabassi said. Voelkner was dismissed from the department in February and the case was turned over to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office.
Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller said that Voelkner will be arraigned on information in Circuit Court on Dec. 10. Voelkner was released on bond.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected])