Photo: Assault rifle collected during arrest | Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
The Ventura County Sheriff’s West County Special Enforcement Unit consists of a team of eight detectives whose primary focus lies in supporting patrol services by investigating the unlawful possession of firearms. According to VCSD spokesman Sr. Deputy Matt Smith, there has been “a noticeable increase in illicit firearm-related incidents” within the county, including the proliferation of ”ghost guns.”
Evidence of this trend came once again on May 18th when detectives from the West County Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) were engaged in a directed enforcement operation targeting individuals on probation and subject to probation search terms. As part of this operation, the detectives made contact with 18-year-old Oxnard resident Salvador Aguilar at his home, whereupon the cops proceeded to conduct a search of Aguilar’s person and property in accordance with the conditions outlined in his probation search terms.
During the search, they discovered a loaded .223 caliber short barrel assault rifle, colloquially known as a “ghost gun” along with an extended magazine and several rounds of ammunition. Given Aguilar’s prior criminal record he is legally prohibited from owning or possessing firearms and ammunition.
Further investigation by the detectives revealed that the loaded assault rifle was not securely stored and presented a potential risk to the safety of other minors residing within the residence. Consequently, Aguilar was taken into custody on multiple charges, including possession of an assault rifle, possession of a short-barrel rifle, possession of a loaded firearm, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of a manufactured firearm not properly registered, criminal storage of a firearm, and child endangerment. Aguilar was transported to Ventura County Jail, where he now resides with his bail set at $60,000.
