Two brothers who were standout athletes for the Monessen Greyhounds are accused of possessing stolen handguns.
Joshua Joseph Stepoli, 18, and Terrance James Stepoli, 19, both of 2060 Grand Blvd., Monessen, were charged early Wednesday morning by Charleroi police with one count each of receiving stolen property and firearms not to be carried without a license.
They were arraigned before District Judge Mark Wilson in Monongahela.
Terrance Stepoli was committed to the Washington County Correctional Facility after failing to post $25,000 straight cash bond. Joshua Stepoli was released after posting bond.
They are facing a preliminary hearing on April 23 before District Judge Larry Hopkins in Charleroi.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Monessen police were alerted that three males in a red Dodge Neon had pulled a handgun on someone in another vehicle at the Eastgate Exxon and then fled.
The vehicle was spotted by Charleroi police in that community at 2:12 a.m. Wednesday, and stopped shortly afterward.
According to the affidavit, a handgun was recovered from under the seat occupied by Terrence Stepoli, and another handgun was found in the pocket of a hooded sweatshirt worn by Joshua Stepoli.
Police said both guns were reported stolen -- one from a residence in Monessen and the other from a home in Washington Township, Fayette County.
The brothers began their scholastic athletic careers at Monessen High School.
Terrance Stepoli transferred to Greensburg Central Catholic first and was later followed by his brother.
Both played football and basketball for the Centurions, and Terrance Stepoli was on the track team.
After playing the football season and part of the basketball season, the Stepolis decided to leave the basketball team in January 2010.
They transferred to Monessen on March 7, 2010, two days after Monessen defeated Greensburg Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class AA basketball championship game.
The WPIAL board wanted to know why the Stepolis were transferring back to Monessen from Greensburg Central Catholic after spending a little more than a year at the private school.
Terrance Stepoli had to sit out the 2009 season opener with Rochester after he was ejected in the Greyhounds' last contest of the 2008 season, a 47-0 second-round playoff defeat to Clairton.
Josh Stepoli left Monessen near the end of the 2010-11 school year and transferred to a school in North Carolina.
