SCSO Completes Investigation on Cache of Stolen Guns

New information has been released regarding the cache of stolen guns that were seized from Zachary Johnson, 35, of Toccoa, on Big A Road Feb. 10.

It was reported yesterday that the Toccoa Police Department had turned the investigation over to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office for them to continue looking into the burglary.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley told WNEG News about the burglary which resulted in several firearms being removed from a residence on Friar Road.

“The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a resident on Friar Road here in Stephens County on the 14th of February,” Shirley said. “The victim stated that he had recently noticed he was missing multiple firearms at his residence, and he believed that the firearms were stolen from an individual known to him.”

Shirley stated that on Feb. 10, Toccoa Police Officers had received a tip that Johnson, a convicted felon, was transporting guns in his vehicle, a black Kia Optima.

As officers performed a traffic stop, they found multiple firearms in the vehicle.

Shirley continued to explain that his investigators and the Toccoa Police Department’s detectives were able to identify the multiple guns as the ones stolen from the victim on Friar Road.

“As a result of that, Zachary Johnson, 35, of Toccoa, was charged with four counts of felony theft by receiving stolen firearms, and is currently being held in the Stephens County Jail, on a $31,000 bond,” Shirley added.

The guns recovered included a Ruger mini 14, a Smith & Wesson MP22 handgun, a black Colt revolver, a Ruger 22 pistol and a Sig Sauer riffle with scope.

One of the handguns also had the serial number filed off.

Johnson was charged, by the Toccoa Police Department, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, driving while license suspended or revoked, possession of a firearm with altered serial number.

He was also charged with four counts of felony theft by receiving stolen firearms by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.

Johnson remains in custody at the Stephens County Jail.