Fraud Investigation Leads to Arrest of Felon in Covelo for Possession of Firearms

This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 02-23-2021 at about 10:45 hours, a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy was conducting follow-up investigations on a possible fraud case and went to a residence in the 23000 block of Henderson Road in Covelo, California.

While attempting to contact the occupants of the residence, the Deputy could see inside an open door where he noticed a black semi-automatic rifle with a pistol grip and forward grip with a detachable magazine. This firearm was later found to be unloaded.

The Deputy had knowledge a 39 year-old male lived at the location and was a convicted felon prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.

The Deputy had the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center confirm the 39 year-old male’s firearm prohibition status.

The Deputy contacted a Sheriff’s Sergeant who authored a search warrant for the location based upon the Deputy’s observation of the rifle.

The search warrant was presented to a Mendocino County Superior Court Judge, who granted the search warrant for the location.

While waiting for the warrant, two subjects exited the residence, which included the 39 year-old male. The Deputy contacted the subjects and learned other firearms were reportedly located inside the residence.

When the search warrant was served at the residence a subsequent search reveled a total of five firearms and ammunition (see attached photographs).

The handguns were a loaded .38 caliber revolver and a loaded .45 caliber semi automatic handgun. The .45 caliber handgun was later confirmed to be stolen.Besides the first semi automatic rifle seen with assault weapon type characteristics, Deputies found a second similar loaded semi automatic rifle.  In a trailer on the property, the Deputy located an unloaded 30.06 bolt action rifle with a scope.

All the firearms were seized pursuant to the search warrant and an investigative report will be submitted to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office for determination of potential charging related to the subjects present at the residence.