SPENCER, IA (Northwestiowanow) — A former employee at a Spencer retailer is facing a felony charge for the alleged theft of a handgun from the business.

According to court documents, Spencer Police were called to Dunham’s Sports in July after loss prevention personnel reported a missing handgun from the store’s inventory.

He told police 21 year old Bryce Malachi Ortega reported finding a gun elsewhere in the store, but that security footage revealed Ortega had removed the firearm from a display cabinet and left the premises.

Online court records indicate Ortega later admitted to taking more than $7,000 worth of merchandise from the business over several months.

Ortega was taken into custody July 13 and charged with second-degree theft, a Class D felony.