(File photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) Kayla Montgomery, facing fraud and theft charges for allegedly bilking state welfare funds in the name of her missing stepdaughter, Harmony Montgomery, is now facing additional charges accusing her of receiving stolen firearms.

CONCORD — State and federal authorities on Tuesday filed two new charges against Kayla Montgomery, who has been in jail since her Jan. 22 arrest on charges of welfare fraud, theft by deception and public welfare — prohibited acts, which accuse her of illegally receiving welfare benefits by making false reports to state DHHS officials in regards to her missing stepdaughter, Harmony Montgomery.

Neither Kayla Montgomery or her former husband, Adam Montgomery — who is Harmony’s biological father — have been charged with any offenses directly related to Harmony’s disappearance.

Harmony was 7 when she went missing in 2019, but two years passed before authorities were notified of her disappearance.

Ever since, local, state and federal investigators have been working around the clock seeking clues, interviewing scores of people and trying to piece together evidence that leads them to the girl.

Police filed the new charges — two Class A felony counts of receiving stolen property — against Kayla Montgomery based on allegations that she “received, or retained, a rifle and a shotgun belonging to C.F., knowing that the firearms had been stolen or believing that they had probably been stolen,” according to a joint statement issued by Attorney General John M. Formella, Manchester police Chief Allen D. Aldenberg, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson, and United States Marshal Enoch F. Willard.

Montgomery is accused of committing the alleged crimes between Sept. 29, 2019, and Oct. 22, 2019, in Manchester, authorities said.

The new allegations are connected to the arrest a week ago of Adam Montgomery on a total of eight charges accusing him of stealing and illegally possessing the rifle and shotgun.

They include two counts each of theft; receiving stolen property; felon in possession of a deadly weapon; and armed career criminal.

They accuse Montgomery of stealing a rifle and a shotgun from the person identified as C.F. between Sept. 29, 2019 and Oct. 3, 2019; receiving or retaining the two firearms; possessing the firearms after having been convicted of one or more felonies; and possessing the firearms after having been convicted of three or more qualifying felonies, according to the statement issued at the time.

Kayla Montgomery’s next court appearance is a status conference currently scheduled for June 9.

Adam Montgomery is next due in court for a dispositional conference, which is scheduled for June 28.

Both cases are being adjudicated in Hillsborough County Superior Court North in Manchester.

In Tuesday’s statement, authorities underscored the fact that “there is no evidence of any connection between the stolen firearms and the disappearance of Harmony Montgomery.”

They stressed that the search for Harmony continues in earnest, and renewed their hope that anyone who may have any information about her whereabouts or the circumstances of her disappearance contacts authorities with that information.

The best way to bring information to police is through the dedicated tip line — 603-203-6060 — that was set up at the beginning of the investigation. The line receives text messages as well as phone calls, and is monitored around the clock.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.