Courts.
A Warminster woman who admitted in Montgomery County Court to illegally purchasing firearms for her Lansdale boyfriend, one of which was later recovered when he was arrested outside his ex-girlfriend’s home in New Hanover Township while wearing night-vision goggles, was sentenced to 6½ to 13 years in state prison at Muncy.
Kristin Leigh Sweigard, 40, previously pleaded guilty to charges of selling or transferring firearms to an ineligible person, conspiracy, and making false statements on federal purchase forms, according to The Mercury.
Prosecutors said Sweigard purchased three guns between June 2023 and November 2023 for her boyfriend, Edward Cordenner III, 36, of the 600 block of Susquehanna Avenue, despite knowing he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction.
Investigators said Sweigard lied on federal forms by claiming the guns were for her, per the report. Police later recovered the weapons — a 9mm Taurus pistol, an AR-15 style rifle, and a Maverick Arms shotgun — during searches connected to Cordenner’s February 2024 arrest.
Assistant District Attorney Courtney McMonagle said prosecutors sought a state prison term of eight to 16 years, citing the number of weapons involved and the danger posed by Cordenner, according to reports.
In the report, defense attorney Basil Beck said Sweigard was remorseful and hoped to demonstrate progress since her arrest.
Cordenner was taken into custody Feb. 4, 2024, after police said he was found prowling in the driveway of his ex-girlfriend’s Colflesh Road home. He allegedly had night-vision goggles, a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol, and an additional loaded magazine. Authorities said he resisted arrest and was combative with officers.
A subsequent search of his Lansdale home uncovered additional firearms purchased by Sweigard, along with ammunition, according to detectives.
Cordenner was held for trial on multiple charges, including possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, carrying a firearm without a license, resisting arrest, and loitering and prowling at night. He was sentenced to 17 to 34 years in prison on the gun charges.
Sweigard's crime is commonly referred to as a straw purchase.
“Straw purchases are still a major problem in our community. Straw purchases lead to more violent crimes,” Rothstein addressed Sweigard at her earlier guilty plea hearing.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
