Officers find loaded firearms in kids’ closet, charge parents

Officers served a search warrant at a Hollister apartment on February 10th and arrested a couple after finding a loaded AR-15 rifle, a sawed-off rifle and a 20 gauge shotgun in the closet of their children’s bedroom, according to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department.

The warrant was issued following a traffic stop on Highway 156 at Pacheco Creek Drive that led to the arrest of David Martinez, 26, on January 23rd. Officials say Martinez had a loaded, stolen handgun in his possession.

Sheriff’s deputies and agents from the San Benito Unified Narcotics Enforcement team on Friday searched the apartment of Martinez and Annette Cuellar, 29, in the 900 block of Nash Road in Hollister.

In addition to the loaded firearms, deputies found magazines and ammunition along with “many items indicating active participation in a criminal street gang,” according to the press release issued this afternoon. Those items included narcotics, narcotics packaging and a digital scale.

Martinez and Cuellar were booked into the San Benito County Jail and face multiple criminal charges, including child endangerment.

Child protective services took custody of the two children, aged three and seven months.