Guilty Plea in 'Straw Purchase' of Gun That Killed Police Officer in Montgomery County
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Philadelphia man today admitted that he illegally bought several weapons for another man -- including the gun that was used to murder Plymouth Township police officer Brad Fox last September (see related stories).
In a Montgomery County courtroom filled with Plymouth police officers, Michael Henry this morning pleaded guilty to all 23 charges against him-- including nine felonies -- admitting that he bought nine weapons for Andrew Thomas including the Beretta 9mm handgun used to kill Officer Fox.
Henry, 31, now faces a maximum of 84 years behind bars, although the guidelines call for much less.
Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele says he will be asking for a significant sentence.
"The impact that this individual has had on this family, on this community, on law enforcement in general should equate to a very, very lengthy sentence," Steele tells KYW Newsradio.
Henry admitted he lied on the forms used to buy the guns and then illegally resold those guns to Thomas, who ambushed Fox during a chase following a hit-and-run crash (see related story). Many of the guns have not been recovered.
On his way out of the courtroom today, Henry apologized to the officer's family. No date has been set for sentencing.
