WILKES-BARRE — City police apprehended a woman and a man for gun-related offenses after discovering a handgun with a modified serial number in their South Hancock Street home on Tuesday.
Law enforcement went to the residence due to a domestic disturbance and encountered Tammy Marie Tosline, 43, and Michael James Roupas, 34.
Tosline spoke with officers outside and repeatedly claimed there were no guns inside the residence, according to court records.
Authorities entered the house and found Roupas in bed with an empty gun holster, as indicated in court records.
Tosline was asked again if there were firearms in the residence and eventually admitted, as per court records, to hiding a handgun under dog toys.
Law enforcement recovered a 9mm handgun with an altered serial number and a magazine containing 14 rounds, according to court records.
Authorities discovered that Tosline had a restraining order against her prohibiting her from having or carrying firearms.
The handgun had been sent to Roupas from a residence in North Carolina.
A shipping box found at the residence contained a handgun grip, a slide with springs, a trigger assembly kit, gun cleaning tools, a scope, and other items, as recorded by the court.
Tosline and Roupas were charged with two counts of possessing a firearm with a modified serial number. Additionally, Tosline was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Tosline and Roupas were brought before District Judge Kyle Halesey of Hanover Township in Luzerne County Central Court on Wednesday for arraignment.
Tosline was held at the county correctional facility due to a $250,000 bail requirement, while Roupas was held without bail because he was considered a flight risk.
