Crime & Safety

Man Who Allegedly Stole Gun Found in Prison is Arrested

Police say Chad Jay Van Gordon sold a stolen gun to Christian Neith, who allegedly had it hidden behind his belt during police and prison searches in January.

A Bethlehem man who stole a gun that  at Northampton County Prison in early January was arrested today and sent to prison pending further court action, city police said.

Chad Jay Van Gordon, 23, of 47 E. Goepp St., has been charged with stealing a 9mm semi-automatic handgun from another person with whom he lived.

Van Gordon, in turn, allegedly sold the gun to, who authorities have said had the gun tucked inside his waistband when he was arrested Dec. 29. Police officers and prison guards never discovered the weapon, despite four different searches after his arrest and during his processing into prison in Easton.

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The gun was found on Jan. 5, hidden behind a filing cabinet in the prison’s intake unit. The discovery prompted a prison lockdown, changes to security procedures and personnel at the prison, and disciplinary action for the Bethlehem officers who initially arrested and processed Neith.

Neith, who was arrested again in February for bringing the gun into prison, told police that he bought the gun from Van Gordon for $200 in an alley behind the  convenience store at 101 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, according to a news release city police issued today.

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Van Gordon was charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and carrying firearms without a license. He was arraigned in front of , who set bail at $30,000.


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