BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities in Barton County are investigating a suspect in connection with a stolen gun.

On Wednesday, March 23, officers with the Hoisington Police Department recovered a stolen firearm from a number of auto burglaries that occurred in January.

Another Hoisington officer had gone undercover and purchased the firearm in Russell after it was discovered for sale online, according to a social media report.

The Russell County Sheriff’s Office and Russell Police Department conducted a traffic stop on and arrested Richard Heaton immediately after the stolen firearm purchase.

Search warrants were later executed at Heaton’s residence as well the vehicle Heaton was driving.

Heaton’s formal charges include two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit criminal possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property.

Heaton has previous convictions of aggravated assault and for possession of drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.