A Boynton Beach husband and wife are facing felony charges after police say they pointed what looked like a handgun at two juveniles riding electric bicycles near their home on the 70 block of Vista Del Rio. Officers say they later found the suspected weapon, a black Byrna-style pellet gun, sitting on a coffee table inside the house. The couple, identified as Barbara Ann Stephan, 59, and Craig Brownell Stephan, 63, were arrested on aggravated-assault charges and remain in custody while their case moves through the courts.
According to CBS12, probable-cause affidavits say officers were dispatched at about 8:36 p.m. after a caller reported a woman in a red dress pointing a weapon at teens near the property. Responding officers spotted a silver Ford Bronco heading south on Vista Del Rio, pulled it over, and say the driver matched the description from the call, according to the documents.
Two juveniles told investigators that one of the suspects "pointed what appeared to be a black handgun" at them while they were riding and fishing near the easement, with one saying he "feared for his life," the affidavits state, as reported by CBS12. Officers say both Stephans later admitted to pointing the pellet launcher. Barbara is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and Craig with one count. Bond was set at $2,000 for Barbara and $1,000 for Craig, with an arraignment scheduled for May 28, according to the arrest records.
Byrna-Style Launcher Explained
Byrna-style launchers are commercially sold, CO2-powered projectile devices that can fire kinetic or irritant rounds, according to company and regulatory filings. Manufacturers promote them as less-lethal self-defense tools, but technical and regulatory disclosures note that these launchers can deliver force at ranges and energy levels that make them hazardous during confrontations; see the SEC filing for corporate detail.
Charges, Penalties And Local Context
Under Florida law, aggravated assault "with a deadly weapon without intent to kill" is classified as aggravated assault and is a third-degree felony, which can carry penalties of up to five years in prison. The Florida Statutes spell out the legal definition and potential sentence.
The case lands amid stepped-up attention on teen e-bike use by local law enforcement in northern Palm Beach County, following crashes and neighborhood complaints, as reported by WPBF.
The Stephans’ arraignment is set for May 28. Court records will show whether prosecutors move ahead with formal charges that carry the penalties outlined under state law. This story will be updated as the case proceeds.
