Police

Update: Bail set at $300K for man arrested on gun charges Saturday

Nicholas Kieltyka

A Kings Park man caught stealing ammunition from Walmart in Riverhead Saturday was also found to be in possession of a switchblade, a loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun and an unauthorized assault rifle with numerous high capacity magazines, town police said. 

Nicholas Kieltyka, 30, was spotted by store security attempting to conceal two boxes of ammunition shortly before 5 p.m., police said. He also tried to steal a box of fire starters, paracords and glow sticks, according to the criminal complaint read aloud in Riverhead Justice Court by Judge Richard Ehlers Sunday morning.

The Judge said the knife was in Mr. Kieltyka’s right hand at the time of his arrest and the handgun, a .40 caliber Heckler & Koch P2000 SK, was at his waist.

A later search of his vehicle revealed that Mr. Kieltyka was also in possession of a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle, with several modifications, including an additional grip for the non-trigger hand, a scope and a muzzle, according to the complaint.

Nicholas Kieltyka posted a photo of this gun on his Pinterest page 12 weeks ago with the caption, "My EDC/go to pistol HK P2000sk I have a Bravo Concealment holster for it which be OWB or IWB." (Credit: Pinterest)
Nicholas Kieltyka posted a photo of this gun on his Pinterest page 12 weeks ago with the caption, “My EDC/go to pistol HK P2000sk I have a Bravo Concealment holster for it which be OWB or IWB.” (Credit: Pinterest)

Mr. Kieltyka was arraigned on a count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony; 12 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon a Class D felony; a count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor; and a petit larceny charge, also a misdemeanor.

The additional counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon are due to the magazines found in the vehicle and the modifications to the rifle.

Judge Ehlers set bail at $300,000. Mr. Kieltyka is due back in court Monday morning.

As he walked into the courtroom, Mr. Kieltyka, who was wearing a turtle neck sweater and blue jeans, his hands cuffed behind his back, flashed his parents and another young woman who attended the arraignment a nervous smile.

His father, Keith, later asked the judge if his son’s bail could be lowered. Reached at his St. James home Sunday morning, Mr. Kieltyka declined to comment on his son’s arrest.

A native of St. James and a graduate of Smithtown High School who later pitched on the Siena College baseball team, Nicholas Kieltyka told the judge he lives in Kings Park in an apartment he shares with his girlfriend.

A man listed online as the owner of the home in Kings Park where Mr. Kieltyka rents an apartment declined comment Sunday morning.