A Tippecanoe man has been arrested for attempting to sell a handgun to a convicted felon.
Nicholas Andrew Irvine, 23, was arrested on one felony count of criminal transfer of a firearm and one misdemeanor count of carrying a handgun without a license. His bond was set at $10,250.
Warsaw police spoke with an undercover informant who advised he had arranged to purchase a Hi-Point .38 caliber CF 380 handgun from Irvine for either $200 or $250.
On June 15, police met with the informant and searched him for any drugs or contrabond with none found. The informant was supplied with an audio recording device to monitor any conversations he may have with Irvine.
The informant met Irvine in the parking lot at one of the Owen’s grocery stores in Warsaw. He got in Irvine’s vehicle and police could hear the two discussing the gun, including the informant checking the magazine and stating it was loaded. The informant told Irvine he was a felon and could not purchase bullets, then inquired about obtaining bullets for the gun. Irvine told the informant the gun was loaded, but there was not a bullet in the chamber. Irvine said he could provide additional bullets by purchasing them through his mother.
Once the transaction was completed, the informant provided the Hi-Point handgun to police, with eight bullets in the magazine.
Police discovered the gun was reported stolen by the Bluffton Police Department. Bluffton police were contacted and confirmed the weapon was stolen along with a 9mm handgun in 2010 in their jurisdiction.
Irvine was convicted of possession of two or more chemical reagents or precursors with intent to manufacture a control substance, a felony charge in February. Because of that conviction Irvine cannot legally possess a handgun permit.
