Robert Bueno
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — It wouldn’t be unreasonable for members of law enforcement to lose sleep at night wondering what in the world much of the population is planning for when they apparently invest considerable time and resources in amassing what can only be described as a personal arsenal.
That question may well have popped into the minds of Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Detectives on December 14th when, acting on a tip that Lompoc resident 49-year-old Robert Bueno “may be a felon with access to firearms,” a search warrant was served upon Bueno’s home.
Bueno’s arsenal
According to SBSD Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, detectives attached to the SBSD Special Investigations Bureau conducting the house search discovered “four rifles and ammunition” hidden under a bed.
As such a discovery might reasonably inspire a more detailed search of the premises, deputies then found “a tactical vest with body armor” and additional illegal weapons “including nunchaku and a cane sword.”
A short time later, Bueno—who was not at the home during the search—was surprised by the arrival of deputies at his place of work who promptly placed him in handcuffs. He was then transported to Santa Barbara County Jail for booking on charges of possession of body armor by a felon, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of nunchaku, and possession of a cane sword, with his bail set at $100,000.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, SBSD Special Investigations Bureau
