In April of 2019, the Camarillo Police Department’s Special Enforcement Detail and Community Resource Unit concluded a runaway juvenile investigation by arresting Elizabeth Figueroa and Christopher Welch for numerous charges, including felony child endangerment and possession of illegal assault rifles.
In March of 2019, the Camarillo Police Department’s Community Resource Unit began an investigation regarding a juvenile that had recently run away from a residence in Camarillo. During the course of the initial investigation, detectives learned the runaway juvenile was possibly staying in the Carpinteria area with her sister, also a reported runaway juvenile from Oxnard, and their mother, identified as Elizabeth Figueroa. Detectives also confirmed Figueroa had a felony warrant for her arrest for HS 11550(e) / Under the influence of a controlled substance with a firearm, and that she was on probation with search terms.
On 04/18/19, detectives with the Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail located Figueroa while she was walking through a parking lot in the 600 block of County Square Drive in Ventura and arrested her for the felony warrant. Figueroa was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
After her arrest, detectives returned to Figueroa’s apartment in the 4800 block of Sandyland Road in Carpinteria to conduct a probation search and located the two runaway juveniles. A seven month old infant belonging to one of the juveniles was also located in the apartment. During the search of Figueroa’s apartment, detectives located drug paraphernalia used to ingest controlled substances, a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, ammunition, three unsecured and fully loaded handguns and one partially built semi-automatic handgun. These items were all found in areas accessible to the juveniles. There was evidence located that indicated a male subject, identified as Christopher Welch, was also living in the apartment. Following the search, Ventura County Child Protective Services took custody of the runaway juveniles and the infant and transported them back to Ventura County.
Based on what was found in the apartment, Welch was located in the city of Ventura and arrested for PC 273a(a) / Child endangerment and HS 11370.1 / Possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm. Welch was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail for the listed charges. After being booked into jail, Welch soon posted bail and was released from custody.
Following this arrest, members of the Camarillo Special Enforcement Detail and the Ojai Police Department served a search warrant at Welch’s residence, located in the 1800 block of Country Place in Ojai. During a search of the residence, detectives located 28 assorted rifles, shotguns and handguns, high-capacity magazines and several silencers. Detectives confirmed several of the AR-15 and AK-47 style rifles seized fit the criteria of being considered an “assault weapon” and were in violation of California Penal Code 30605. In addition, possession of a silencer is illegal in California and a violation of California Penal Code 33410. A search of the residence also resulted in the seizure over 15,000 rounds of various types of ammunition. All the firearms and ammunition were seized as evidence.
On 04/21/19, Welch was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for the following charges: PC 30605(a) / Possession of an assault weapon, PC 32310(a) / Possession of large capacity magazines and PC 33410 / Possession of a silencer. Welch’s bail was set at $250,000 with a pending court date.
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