The victim of a fire in Mahanoy City this week is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison for illegally possessing firearms.
According to Court Documents, Richard Wargo, 49, of Mahanoy City was charged by Mahanoy City Cpl. Charles Kovalewski on Thursday, June 15th, 2023, with one felony count possession of a firearm when prohibited.
Wargo had been burned out of his home at 1220 East Market Street on Thursday, when a fire broke out in the kitchen around 8:00am. The fire destroyed the home where Wargo lived with his mother, and damaged a neighboring home. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental from unattended cooking.
Court papers stated that after the fire, police found a 9mm Hi-Point and 45 mm Hi-Point in the home. A third gun was found but was damaged in the fire. Wargo is prohibited of possessing firearms due to a prior conviction.
Wargo was taken into custody Thursday afternoon, arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $30,000 straight cash bail.