WILKES-BARRE, Penn. -- Former Coaldale, Penn. Police Chief Shawn Nihen has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of buying a machine gun without filling out federal paperwork.
Nihen’s plea in Wilkes-Barre yesterday was the result of his cooperation with authorities in the probe of two other Panther Valley area police officers, who are charged with planting evidence in drug cases.
Nihen was charged with purchasing the gun from former Lansford Police Chief Joseph Stawiarski (stah-WOR'-skee).
The other two officers, Lansford Patrolman Jeremy Sommers and former Coaldale officer Michael Weaver, were arraigned Monday by a federal magistrate in Wilkes-Barre. Both pleaded innocent and were released on their own recognizance.
Nihen faces a maximum of ten years in prison followed by five years probation and a fine of up to 10-thousand dollars.
Judge William Nealon deferred sentencing and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.