Convicted Atascadero felon found with explosive device, more than 20 guns, sheriff says
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office detectives allegedly found an explosive device, ammunition and more than 20 guns in the possession of an Atascadero man.
The Sheriff’s Office’s special operations unit served a search warrant at a residence in the 4500 block of Farousse Way in rural Paso Robles on June 23, the agency said in a Tuesday news release.
There, detectives found 24 firearms, multiple calibers of ammunition and an “improvised explosive device” belonging to Billy Benjamin Hernandez, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Hernandez, 51, is a convicted felon.
Five days later, the release said, detectives arrested Hernandez on suspicion of the following crimes:
- 24 counts of a felon in possession of a firearm,
- Seven counts of possession of an assault weapon,
- Three counts of possession of a short-barrel rifle,
- One count of possession of a machine gun,
- Five counts of a felon in possession of ammunition and
- One count of possession of a destructive device.
Detectives then served a warrant at Hernandez’s home in the 4300 block of Nogales Avenue in Atascadero, the Sheriff’s Office said, and found more firearms there.
This added the following counts to Hernandez’s suspected charges:
- 15 counts of felon in possession of a firearm,
- One count of possession of an assault weapon,
- Three counts of possession of a short barrel rifle
- Two counts of possession of a machine gun,
- Five counts of felon in possession of ammunition and
- One count of committing a felony while on bail.
Hernandez was in San Luis Obispo County Jail custody as of Tuesday without bail listed, according to online records.
This story was originally published July 11, 2023 at 5:40 PM.
