Hatboro Woman Charged in Gun Straw Purchase

A 22-year-old Hatboro woman has been charged with two felonies stemming from her alleged purchase of guns for her boyfriend, who, as a convicted felon, is not permitted to own firearms, according to police. 

Megan Ryan Boyle, of the 500 block of Exton Road in Hatboro, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with two felony counts of firearm ownership-duty of other persons; and three misdemeanor counts of unsworn falsification to authorities in connection with a July 29 purchase of two guns at Clayton's Hunting and Fishing store on Easton Road in Horsham. 

Police were alerted to the potential straw purchase in July, according to authorities. It wasn't until after further investigation that police determined that Boyle had allegedly bought the firearms for her boyfriend, according to police. 

Boyle is said to have told law enforcement that she has known for years that her boyfriend, a convicted felon, was not allowed to possess firearms, according to police. 

She was arraigned before district magistrate Harry J. Nesbitt III and remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail.

Following the death of Plymouth Township Police Officer Brad Fox last year, the state legislature passed a law which Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law that steps up penalties for so-called straw purchasers, or individuals convicted of buying guns for people who, because of felony convictions, are not permitted to possess firearms.