EAST GARRISON, CA — Authorities arrested a convicted felon and confiscated weapons, illegal modifications, and controlled substances during an enforcement operation in Monterey County on August 19, 2026.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office initiated the case after receiving information that 41 year old Richard Orin Johnson was illegally possessing ammunition. Following an initial inquiry, a deputy established probable cause to obtain a search warrant for Johnson’s residence.
Deputies executed a traffic stop on August 19 to take Johnson into custody. Subsequently, law enforcement officers and detectives executed the search warrant at a home located in the 13000 block of Pope Lane in the East Garrison area.
Upon searching the premises, investigators recovered several functioning firearms, including two Springfield Armory XD handguns and an unserialized Smith & Wesson revolver. One of the Springfield XD9 pistols was previously reported stolen to the Palm Springs Police Department. Law enforcement also uncovered multiple unserialized “ghost gun” parts—specifically Glock-style components—alongside three silencers, high-capacity magazines, loose rounds, and boxed ammunition.
Additionally, officers seized equipment related to illicit weapon assembly, including conversion kits, 3D-printed parts, receiver finishing jigs, and replica firearms displaying signs of modification attempts. Deputies also found drug paraphernalia and a usable amount of methamphetamine on site.
In a public statement, Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto noted that the case highlights how initial tips and investigative follow-through can result in removing unlawfully held weapons and ammunition from public circulation.
Johnson was transported and booked into the Monterey County Jail, with bail set at $55,000. He faces multiple charges, including:
Being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition
Possession of an undetectable firearm and silencers
Assembling firearms without serial numbers
Possession of high-capacity magazines and stolen property
Possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia
