Convicted Felon Found with Stolen Guns Faces Four Years
Eric Ross Was Pulled Over in July During a Routine Traffic Stop
A convicted felon who had 18 firearms in the trunk of his car when he was pulled over during a routine traffic stop in July pleaded Friday to a charge of a felon in possession of a firearm. He’ll be sentenced to four years in state prison next month.
Eric Ross was pulled over early in the morning on July 19, 2012, for not having a rear license plate light, according to police. Ross admitted to the officer his license was suspended, and a records check also showed Ross had a warrant out for his arrest in Kings County on alleged rape and witness intimidation charges.
A search of the vehicle turned up several shotgun shells in the center console, police said, and 18 various handguns and long guns, two of which were loaded. There were also 47 boxes of 15 types of ammunition in the car.
Ross, police said, told them the guns were the property of his recently deceased father, and he was going to Orange County to try to sell them. An investigation, however, revealed the weapons had been stolen during a residential burglary in Caruthers.
Ross had already served a prison term, and as part of the plea deal, admitted his prior strike. Fresno County authorities, according to Santa Barbara police at the time of the arrest, considered Ross a parolee at large and to be armed and dangerous.
His sentencing is May 10.
