Three plead guilty in gun theft case

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Two Anchorage men have pleaded guilty to stealing guns from a Fred Meyer store last month and using the guns in a home-invasion robbery. A third man, who prosecutors say drove the getaway car, also pleaded guilty.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Kristopher Panichello-Schell, 19, Clifford Leonard, 22, and Dale Dodson, 19, entered guilty pleas Tuesday in federal court in Anchorage.

They face a maximum of ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of probation.

Prosecutors said Panichello-Schell and Leonard smashed the glass firearms display case at a Fred Meyer store in South Anchorage Jan. 21, stole three semi-automatic pistols and ran from the store. Dodson drove the get-away car.

The U.S. Attorney's office says Panichello-Schell and Leonard used one of the stolen pistols to commit a home-invasion robbery.