Victor Lozano booking photo, and the guns collected from the property
Authorities Arrest Wanted Man Out of Fresno County
MONTEREY COUNTY—members of the Southern Monterey County Violence Suppression Collaboration Team arrested a Fresno County man who was hiding out after he walked away from a drug treatment center and probation. Authorities raided the home on Elkhorn Road on information that children were endangered at the residence, and that the occupants had illegal firearms stored at the home.
The entrance to the suspected property off Elkhorn Road
On Wednesday, October 21, the SMCVSC team closed down Elkhorn Road in the Royal Oaks area, south of Watsonville, as more that 40 agents converged on the house at 1049 Elkhorn. The team was concerned about the safety of the children that were reported to be living there.
The reason for their concern was that during their investigation, officers saw several individuals at the address shooting high powered rifles and shotguns. The individuals showed no concern for public safety as they were firing the weapons across Elkhorn Road towards the slough and the recreational area of Kirby Park.
Two of the subjects were found to be on felony probation from previous convictions, therefore they are forbidden from owning or possessing a firearm. All the subjects were identified.
The search produced evidence that at least 10 juveniles, from the ages of one-year-old through 17-years-old, were found to be living in deplorable conditions in a trailer and sheds on the property. The sheds had no electricity, water, heating or plumbing. The trailer was no better, as it had rotting floors, faulty electrical wiring, trash, dirty clothes and other refuse inside and out. The health of the juveniles was clearly endangered by those living conditions.
The property as found by the investigators.
Another big benefit from the raid is that law enforcement officials were able to secure 18 firearms off the streets and out of the hands of probationers. Authorities located high powered rifles, shotguns, and semi-automatic pistols and revolvers, with some which had their serial numbers tampered with.
The team also found thousands of rounds of ammunition within the reach of the small children, which further enhanced the danger to them. The children were taken from the property by Child Protective Services.
The raid also produced an added bonus with the capture of a wanted Fresno County man, who had absconded from a drug treatment center and his probation. 49-year-old Victor Anthony Lozano was taken to Monterey County Jail and booked on multiple weapons violations and child endangerment charges.
Lozano had been arrested in Fresno on June 16 for possession of a controlled substance and identity theft. He was arrested at least three times in 2014 on drug charges and outstanding warrants. An earlier record shows a June 2009 arrest for domestic violence – inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant, and a probation violation.
The case has been turned over to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges on the remaining subjects. The Californian reported them as Darlene Lane, 47, David Lozano, 26, Joseph Lozano, 27, Philip Lozano, 20, Sarah Estrada, 22, Renee Lerma, 28, Crystal Escareno, 27 and Javier Guerrero, 25.
Read More: The Californian
