Chi man could face decades in prison on gun charges
Stillman, who remains in jail in lieu of $500,000 cash bail, faces charges of firearm sale to an ineligible person, recklessly endangering another person and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities in connection with the alleged incident.
Prosecutors vowed to seek decades in prison against an Upper Chichester man if he’s convicted of charges he illegally sold firearms to undercover agents when he set up shop in his car outside a gun show in Upper Providence, Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Laura Bradbury on Friday filed court papers revealing her intent to seek mandatory sentences totaling up to 60 years against Kevin Lee Stillman if Stillman is convicted of multiple sales or attempted sales of firearms to ineligible persons in connection with a 9:35 a.m. Feb. 10, 2018, incident on the parking lot of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in the Oaks section of Upper Providence.
Specifically, Bradbury filed notice to seek fiveyear mandatory sentences, available to prosecutors under state law, on each of the 12 firearms charges lodged against Stillman, for a potential total of 60 years of incarceration upon conviction.
A judge would decide if those five-year mandatory terms are imposed consecutively or concurrently to each other.
Stillman, 48, of the 700 block of Bethel Avenue, has a pretrial conference hearing in mid-July.
Stillman, who remains in jail in lieu of $500,000 cash bail, faces charges of firearm sale to an ineligible person, recklessly endangering another person and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities in connection with the alleged incident.
With the charges, authorities alleged Stillman sold two firearms to an undercover detective, who was posing as an interested buyer who could not legally possess a firearm. A search of Stillman’s vehicle uncovered three rifles, six handguns, about 1,000 rounds of ammunition and multiple cardboard signs advertising firearms for sale, detectives alleged.
A search of Stillman’s home uncovered 10 long guns, two handguns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, according to prosecutors.
As detectives moved in to arrest Stillman he brandished a Glock 40-caliber handgun and threatened to kill himself.
“Stillman then stood next to his vehicle with the firearm pointed underneath his chin. Stillman continuously yelled, ‘I’m not going to jail,’” detectives wrote in the arrest affidavit, adding that after 25 minutes authorities were able to deescalate the situation and take Stillman into custody.
Stillman’s activities were thwarted by detectives from the county’s Violent Crime Unit, who investigate and identify vendors or customers involved in the illegal sale or purchase of firearms. The investigation also included Upper Providence police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force.
The investigation began when detectives, who were at the Eagle Arms Gun Show at the Expo Center, were advised by center employees that a man was selling firearms in the parking lot of the center located along Station Avenue in Upper Providence. The employees did not know who the individual was nor was he approved to sell the firearms in that manner, according to court papers.
Detectives observed a dark grey Nissan Altima on the parking lot, on the windshield of which was a handwritten advertisement listing several handguns and long guns for sale, and included Stillman’s phone number, according to the criminal complaint. Stillman was seated in the driver’s seat and was observed interacting with gun show patrons, detectives alleged.
An undercover detective approached Stillman and expressed interest in purchasing a Glock 23, which was listed on Stillman’s “makeshift advertisement.” Stillman retrieved a box containing the firearm and two empty magazines and the detective inspected the weapon as well as another handgun, a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum, according to the arrest affidavit.
Stillman allegedly proposed a sale price of $900 for both weapons and the undercover detective agreed. Stillman proceeded to tell the detective he did not have a federal firearms license and that they would have to go inside the gun show so a licensed dealer could conduct required background checks on the prospective buyer, according to court papers.
When the undercover detective informed Stillman he was not legally allowed to purchase a firearm Stillman still agreed to sell the two weapons but increased the price to $1,200, according to the criminal complaint.
Stillman allegedly told the undercover detective he would later report the two weapons, which were registered to Stillman, as stolen.
When the illegal sale of the firearms was completed, other law enforcement agents attempted to take Stillman into custody and Stillman allegedly ignored police commands to exit his vehicle and then brandished the Glock 40-caliber handgun and pointed it at his chin.
Detectives heard the sound of Stillman manipulating the firearm’s action in order to chamber a live round, court papers indicate. Detectives took a cover position and one detective developed a dialogue with Stillman before safely diffusing the situation about 25 minutes later. Stillman was taken into custody without further incident.