During the search for a Gilroy man wanted for felony domestic
violence, deputies arrested three of his acquaintances and
recovered half a dozen machine guns, sawed-off shotguns and assault
rifles.
During the search for a Gilroy man wanted for felony domestic violence, deputies arrested three of his acquaintances and recovered half a dozen machine guns, sawed-off shotguns and assault rifles.
Joel Barnes, 39, of Gilroy, was nowhere to be found Saturday morning when Sheriff’s deputies searched a residence on the 5000 block of Hecker Pass Highway where they believe he had stayed the previous night, according to Sheriff’s Lt. Dalia Rodriguez. Instead, deputies found two men in their 30s, a teen girl and a lot of guns and drugs, Rodriguez said.
“We found a ton of interesting things,” she said.
Deputies arrested the 17-year-old girl on suspicion of selling methamphetamine and marijuana, possession of stolen property, possession of a machine gun, and being under the influence of a controlled substance. They also arrested Raul Maciel, 30, on suspicion of possession of machine guns, possession of stolen property, and selling methamphetamine and marijuana, among other charges, and Thomas Esparza, 39, for being under the influence of a controlled substance, Rodriguez said.
Though she did not know if the arrestees were living together, “they were all staying there at the time,” she said.
Deputies also recovered at least half a dozen various guns. “Lots” of ammunition lying about the house gave deputies cause to search the residence, Rodriguez said. The residence’s three occupants were arrested without incident, she said.
Meanwhile, Barnes is still at large with a $25,000 warrant out for his arrest. Wanted by the Sheriff’s Department for felony domestic violence, Barnes may be armed, Rodriguez said. Based on prior confrontations with the suspect, he could be prone to resist arrest, she said.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Joel Barnes may call the Sheriff’s office at 299-2311.
