Jerry D. Rice, 43, of Pathfork, was arrested on Wednesday by Harlan County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Matt Cope.

According to the arrest warrant obtained by Wilson, a woman reported Rice was her nephew and he had been living with her when he took a .45 caliber handgun on Oct. 19. Troopers searched the Pathfork area for several hours, but did not locate Rice. The woman contacted police again on Oct. 21 and reported the gun had been returned. She told police she believed Rice had left the gun on the porch after he learned police were looking for him. She said she watched from a window as Rice returned the gun. The woman also advised police several items of jewelry had also been taken.

Rice was charged with theft by unlawful taking (firearm) and theft by unlawful taking under $10,000. He was lodged in the Harlan County Detention Center.