ARMS CACHE INVESTIGATED.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

Kern County sheriff's deputies are investigating whether tear-gas and ``sting ball'' grenades, ``flash-bang'' diversionary devices and other items found in a Mojave home were stolen from the California Correctional Institute in Tehachapi.

Charles Leslie Scott was arrested Friday at his Jean Drive home on outstanding felony drug warrants and several other charges, officials said.

``They picked him up and then after the search we found all this,'' said Sgt. Steve Hansen of the Mojave sheriff's station. ``We still don't know why he had it all or what he had planned for it. It's all still under investigation.''

Many of the items are believed to be the property of the California Correctional Institution, Hansen said.

Investigators said they found 34 rifles and pistols, a hand-grenade simulator, drug paraphernalia and other property stolen from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating violations of possible federal firearms and explosives laws.

When questioned as to how he obtained the weaponry, Scott told deputies he had purchased all of the items at a yard sale, deputies said.

Based on evidence found in the first search, a second search warrant was served in the Tehachapi area, where more items belonging to the California Correctional Institution were found by investigators, officials said.

Prison officials did not return phone calls.

The Department of Corrections and the Los Angeles DWP have begun internal investigations to determine how the items were taken. Scott is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail on suspicion of possession of a dangerous weapon, bomb making materials, destructive devices, methamphetamine, stolen property and drug paraphernalia; and suspicion of committing a felony while armed with a firearm.