Detectives from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office reportedly found an explosive device, ammunition and more than 20 firearms in the possession of an Atascadero man.
The Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit served a search warrant at a residence in the 4500 block of Farousse Way in rural Paso Robles on June 23, the agency said in a news release Tuesday.
There, detectives found 24 firearms, multiple calibers of ammunition and an “improvised explosive device” belonging to Billy Benjamin Hernandez, the sheriff’s office said.
Benjamin Hernandez, 51, is a convicted felon.
Five days later, detectives arrested Benjamin Hernandez, suspected of 24 counts of felony possession of a firearm, seven counts of possession of an assault weapon, three counts of possession of a short-barreled shotgun, one count of possession of a machine gun, five counts of a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of possession of a destructive device, according to the release.
Detectives then served a warrant at Benjamin Hernandez’s home in the 4300 block of Nogales Avenue in Atascadero, the sheriff’s office said, and found more firearms there.
This added 15 counts of felony possession of a firearm, one count of possession of an assault weapon, three counts of possession of a short-barreled shotgun, two counts of possession of a machine gun, five felony counts in possession of ammunition, and one count of committing a felony while out on bail for the alleged Benjamin Hernandez charges.
Benjamin Hernandez was in custody in the San Luis Obispo County Jail on Tuesday without bond, according to online reports.
