Two CMCH Men Arrested Following Gun Theft Investigation

State troopers say two men from Cape May Court House have been arrested for various weapons offenses following a cooperative gun theft investigation.

According to the New Jersey State Police, on July 8th, NJSP detectives were contacted by members of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) to assist with a stolen firearm investigation that happened at a licensed gun dealership in Hamilton Township. Members of the ATF believed that a package containing a 5.7 caliber handgun was intercepted and stolen by 35-year-old Christopher Liston of Cape May Court House and that he brandished a 9mm handgun from his pocket while at a gun dealership a few days prior.

Police say,

As a result of the investigation, detectives discovered that Christopher Liston purchased the gun out of state and arranged to have it delivered to the dealership. During the transaction, he fraudulently re-routed the delivery of the package to a post office in Rio Grande, N.J. where his father, James Liston, took possession of the firearm.

On July 9, officers with the Hamilton Township Police Department located Christopher Liston at his residence in Cape May Court House. Officers arrested him without incident and seized the 9mm handgun he allegedly brandished at the dealership.

Police say a search warrant was executed at the residence and detectives recovered the 5.7 caliber handgun and seized four assault rifles, two 60-round magazines, five 30-round magazines, and one 20-round magazine. Among the assault rifles seized was a short barrel assault rifle “ghost gun,” described as an unregistered and un-serialized firearm assembled from parts, which was manufactured by Christopher Liston.

Christopher Liston was charged with four counts of unlawful possession of weapons; six counts of prohibited weapons and devices; three counts of manufacturing, transporting, disposition, and defacement of weapons; two counts of violation of regulatory provisions relating to firearms; certain persons not to have weapons. He was lodged at the Atlantic County Jail pending a detention hearing.

73-year-old James Liston, also of Cape May Court House, was charged with four counts of unlawful possession of weapons; five counts of prohibited weapons and devices; three counts of manufacturing, transporting, disposition, and defacement of weapons; and two counts of violation of regulatory provisions relating to firearms. He was released pending a court hearing.