Juveniles arrested in stolen handgun case

Three juveniles who allegedly committed a rash of vehicle burglaries in the Gardnerville Ranchos early May 26 were arrested Monday morning.

The 17-year-old male was arrested at Douglas High School and booked into the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Facility for burglary, grand larceny of a firearm, unlawful sale of a firearm, and being a juvenile is possession of a firearm.

The 15-year-old male was arrested at his home and booked into the Juvenile Detention Facility for burglary and grand larceny of a firearm.

The 14-year-old male was arrested a Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School and booked into the Detention Facility for burglary.

A 16-year-old juvenile parolee was arrested Friday night with a loaded Ruger handgun stolen in the vehicle burglaries that involved the three other juveniles.

The arrest was the culmination of a two-day investigation that started on June 5 when deputies and investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office learned that a 17-year-old Minden resident was actively trying to sell a Springfield Armory semi-automatic pistol to other juveniles.

Investigators contacted the 17-year-old male and recovered the pistol. It was determined that he received the Springfield Armory pistol from a 16-year-old male from Gardnerville.

On Friday, Investigators interviewed the 16-year-old Gardnerville resident who admitted to selling the Springfield Armory pistol to the 17-year-old. The 16-year-old Gardnerville resident also admitted that he along with another 16-year-old male and a 14-year-old male (both from Gardnerville) committed numerous vehicle burglaries in the Gardnerville Ranchos.

The 16-year-old admitted that the Springfield Armory pistol had been stolen from a vehicle during the rash of burglaries. The theft of this pistol had not even been reported to the Sheriff’s Office.

It was determined that the Ruger pistol had been sold to a 16-year-old male Gardnerville resident who was on juvenile parole for carjacking.

Investigators located the 16-year-old parolee at the carnival in Lampe Park during the evening hours of Friday. He had the loaded Ruger pistol in his pants pocket when he was contacted at the carnival.

The 17-year-old Minden resident was booked into the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Facility for possession of a stolen firearm, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and being a juvenile in possession of a firearm.

Burglary and firearm related charges are forthcoming for the three juveniles who committed the vehicle burglaries in the Ranchos.

The 16-year-old parolee was booked into the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Facility for parole violation, possession of a stolen firearm, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and being a juvenile in possession of a firearm.