Traffic Stop Leads to Narcotics and Illegal Weapons Arrest in Portola
PORTOLA, CA — Plumas County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a 62-year-old resident on multiple felony weapons and narcotics charges following a traffic stop and subsequent search Thursday evening.
At approximately 5:50 p.m. on August 27, 2026, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of East Sierra Avenue in Portola, identifying the driver as 62-year-old Portola Resident, Bernard Bonavita. During the stop, deputies performed a court compliance check on Bonavita’s vehicle before extending the search to his Portola residence.
During the compliance check, deputies located suspected methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, digital scales, firearm-related items, high-capacity rifle magazines, and a suspected silencer.
Bonavita was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Plumas County Jail. He faces felony charges including possession of methamphetamine for sale (11378 H&S), possession of psilocybin mushrooms for sale (11351 H&S), possession of marijuana for sale with a prior conviction (11359(C) H&S), prohibited person in possession of ammunition or firearms (30305(A)(1) PC), and possession of a silencer (33410 PC). He was also charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (11364(A) H&S) and violation of a court order (166(A)(4) PC).
The case will be forwarded to the Plumas County District Attorney’s Office for formal prosecution review as the investigation continues.
