GUNS SEIZED; PAROLEE JAILED.Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer LANCASTER - An anonymous tip to federal law enforcement officials led to the arrest of a 40-year-old Lancaster man and the seizure of an assault rifle assault rifle Military firearm that is chambered for ammunition of reduced size or propellant charge and has the capacity to switch between semiautomatic and fully automatic fire. and several other weapons, officials said Monday. Scott Robert Martin, who was on probation on a previous conviction for making terrorist threats and intimidating a witness, was arrested just after noon Monday when investigators showed up with a search warrant at his house in the 4100 block of East Avenue H. ``We had been investigating this for about the past five days, which resulted in the search warrant and subsequent arrest,'' said Detective Mark Machanic of the Palmdale sheriff's station. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms received a tip early last week from a man claiming to have been threatened by Martin. The tipster tipster A person who provides inside information. told agents that Martin had made reference to being a convicted felon An individual who commits a crime of a serious nature, such as Burglary or murder. A person who commits a felony. felon n. a person who has been convicted of a felony, which is a crime punishable by death or a term in state or federal prison. and having several assault rifles, authorities said. ATF ATF Molecular virology Activating transcription factor A cellular protein that stimulates transcription of adenovirus E4 transcription unit, which acts early in infection at any of several 'enhancer' binding sites agents subsequently contacted Machanic, with whom they have worked in the past. Investigators watched Martin for several days before obtaining a search warrant, and went to Martin's home, where they said they found narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. paraphernalia. Investigators then went to the A-American Self Storage lot in the 37900 block of 10th Street East in Palmdale and located Martin's storage bin, which had been identified by the tipster. ATF agents brought a search dog to find the firearms in the 10-foot by 15-foot bin. ``We had to move a ton of stuff, but the dog located the general area where the guns were being kept,'' Machanic said. Inside, they found what Machanic described as an AK-47 rifle, a .22- caliber rifle modified to look like an AR-15, two stock .22-caliber rifles, a shotgun, a 9mm Luger Lu·ger n. A German semiautomatic pistol introduced before World War I and widely used by German troops in World War II. [Originally a trademark.] Noun 1. pistol and several thousand rounds of ammunition. Martin was arrested on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms Ask a Lawyer Question Country: United States of America State: North Carolina My friend was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. It has been seven years since his last conviction. , probation violations, and illegal possession of an assault weapon, and was being held at the Lancaster sheriff's station without bail. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color in AV edition only) With Deputy Mark Machanic and ATF Agent Renee Finney, Vaughn the black Lab looks over weapons he found. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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