A Lackawanna County jury found a former Peckville man guilty on theft charges stemming from the theft of a revolver following a two-day trial before Judge Michael Barrasse, District Attorney Brian Gallagher said.
The jury took 90 minutes to find Luis Morel-Caraballo guilty of felony charges of unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, Gallagher said.
The case originated from May 17, 2025, when city officers were called to the 1000 block of Corbett Avenue for the report of a man entering vehicles there.
Police found Morel-Caraballo hiding beneath a wooden porch wearing clothing that matched the description provided by the initial report. Officers arrested him.
Nearby, police found a backpack containing a stolen .357 revolver firearm, bolt cutters and other miscellaneous items.
Investigators connected the incident with a fenced backyard in the 1400 block of West Locust Street, where the gate showed signs of forced entry.
The homeowner provided surveillance footage showing Morel-Caraballo damaging the gate.
The case was prosecuted by Michael McGrath and Dave Coyne, assistant district attorneys.
“We will keep searching for stolen firearms and working to keep them out of the hands of convicted felons and those who steal them,” Gallagher said.
Morel-Caraballo is expected to be sentenced in about 90 days.