Federal court charges Three Bears thieves

ANCHORAGE - Last month’s burglary at the gun counter in Three Bears on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway is now in federal court.

A federal grand jury charged seven people with federal gun crimes stemming from the Oct. 17 burglary, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

John Stern, 20, Mitchell Cupp, 19, Amber Helmann, 30, Joseph Price, 24, Christopher Everly, 18, Laurie Plyler, 39 and Kevin Angel, 29, were all charged with possession and disposal of stolen guns.

Stern and Cupp also were charged with stealing guns from a federally licensed dealer, and Price with being a felon in possession of a gun.

The charges carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 fines.

The federal charges are in addition to state charges all seven also face. Helmann is charged in state court with 22 counts of theft by receiving, Everly with 38 counts of theft and two of burglary, Stern with 38 counts of theft and two of burglary, Cupp with 38 counts of theft and two of burglary, Price with two counts of theft by receiving, Plyler with two counts of theft by receiving and two of drug misconduct, and Angel with two counts of theft by receiving and one of evidence tampering.

The state case also includes two other defendants not mentioned in the federal case. Joseph Owens is charged with 38 counts of theft and two of burglary and a 16-year-old boy faces charges in juvenile court.

The theft was caught on surveillance cameras in the gun section, according to documents the Alaska State Troopers filed in court.

Three thieves are seen emerging from hiding spots after the store closed, prying open the drawer that held the extra key to the gun case, emptying the case into bags taken from a display rack and leaving through a fire exit. The whole thing took 12 minutes.

Three Bears staff told troopers they are very particular with who they let work in the gun section. Stern apparently worked for the store as a night stocker, long enough, troopers allege, to have learned where the spare key to the gun case was hidden.

Jail records Wednesday afternoon show Helmann was incarcerated but has bailed out. Owens had also been released from jail. Angel, Cupp, Everly and Stern are listed as inmates of the Anchorage Jail. Price and Plyer didn’t show up in jail records.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.