Police

Bail dropped to $100K for man arrested on weapons charges

Nicholas Kieltyka (Credit: Riverhead Police Department)
Nicholas Kieltyka (Credit: Riverhead Police Department)

A Riverhead Town Justice lowered bail for the Kings Park man accused of stealing ammunition from Walmart in Riverhead Saturday while being in possession of a switchblade, a loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun and an unauthorized assault rifle with numerous high capacity magazines.

A day after he was arraigned on a slew of charges, including 12 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Nicholas Kieltyka, 30, was back in Riverhead Town Justice Court Monday in handcuffs, unable to make the $300,000 bail.

This time, Mr. Kieltyka was represented by New York City attorney Gerald DiChiara who said his client has “deep ties to the community” and requested bail to be reduced to $100,000 cash.

Justice Richard Ehlers agreed to lower bail to that amount and stated Mr. Kieltyka should under go a psychological evaluation due to the nature of the allegations.

According to police, Mr. Kieltyka was spotted by Walmart store security attempting to conceal two boxes of ammunition shortly before 5 p.m. 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, who arraigned Mr. Kieltyka Sunday morning.

Mr. Ehlers 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.

Further investigation of his vehicle found 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.

Mr. Kieltyka is charged with 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.

Unable to post the original $300,000 cash or bond bail, Mr. Kieltyka was escorted into court on Monday wearing a Suffolk County Correctional Facility jumpsuit. His attorney said Mr. Kieltyka, a life-long Suffolk County resident with no prior criminal history, agreed to reside with his parents at their St. James home until the case is resolved. On Sunday, Mr. Kieltyka told the judge he had been living with his girlfriend at a Kings Park apartment.

Mr. Di Chiara declined to comment on his client’s case.

Mr. Kieltyka’s parents and girlfriend, who had been sitting in the courtroom, also declined to speak to the press.

Mr. Kieltyka is due back in court Thursday. As of early Monday afternoon, he was still in custody.