Joined
·
136 Posts
Story on man with "weapons cache"
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
Joined
·
723 Posts
This is almost a year old....old news.
Joined
·
136 Posts
Thomas McKiernan, 62, admitted to possession of explosives, possession of an assault weapon and resisting arrest.
He faces a sentence ranging from probation to two years in prison when he returns to Riverside Superior Court on April 24.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Mayman said two additional charges of possession of assault weapons were dismissed as part of a plea bargain. Three assault weapons reportedly were found at McKiernan's home.
"His main crime was improperly storing volatile materials," Mayman said.
Investigators found the explosives and guns after McKiernan's house on Pali Drive caught fire March 1. They also found a 25-foot-long tunnel stocked with what was later reported to be barrels of food and water.
Authorities initially arrested him because he wrestled with firefighters as they tried to keep him out of his burning house.
He was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside in lieu of $100,000 bail.
The possession-of-explosives charge to which McKiernan pleaded guilty Tuesday is a felony. The weapons-possession and resisting-arrest counts are misdemeanors.
Mayman said a person can legally possess only one pound of black powder in Riverside County. McKiernan reportedly had more than 70 pounds in his possession.
The county allows 20 pounds of smokeless powder, but McKiernan reportedly had about 116.
The prosecutor said illegal storage of the powder is dangerous because it can explode in a confined space. McKiernan's powder will be destroyed as hazardous waste.
Mayman said he was comfortable dismissing two of the illegal-weapons possession counts because McKiernan appears to be a gun enthusiast whose collection had fallen out of compliance as state gun laws evolved.
McKiernan had three Chinese-made SKS weapons - the only ones in his collection of 110 guns that required permits - that were classified as assault weapons after a California ban in 2000, Mayman said.
"He owned them prior to the law going into effect, and he didn't think they classified as assault weapons, so he didn't register them," Mayman said. "That's why we charged him with a misdemeanor, not a felony. This is not a guy who blatantly smuggled them into California knowing they were illegal."
Still, McKiernan's assault weapons will be destroyed, he said.
Mayman said he has received several calls from people contending McKiernan is being persecuted for merely being a gun collector.
But Mayman emphasized the guns were not the problem.
"A lot of these weapons he had were collector's items, like Garand weapons from World War II in mint condition. So, this was not an armory," he said. "But we didn't prosecute him for having a gun collection. We prosecuted him for storing volatile materials."
Michael Cernyar, McKiernan's attorney, said his client has received a lot of support from the Norco community.
"He appreciates that support, and it's picked up his confidence," Cernyar said. "At this point, he just wants to move on with his life. ... In a little less than a week, he lost his house, was placed in jail for the first time in his life, and he lost a lot of his memorables."
McKiernan's house was condemned after the fire.
Cernyar said he does not know what McKiernan will do after his home of 32 years is razed.
He faces a sentence ranging from probation to two years in prison when he returns to Riverside Superior Court on April 24.
Deputy District Attorney Michael Mayman said two additional charges of possession of assault weapons were dismissed as part of a plea bargain. Three assault weapons reportedly were found at McKiernan's home.
"His main crime was improperly storing volatile materials," Mayman said.
Investigators found the explosives and guns after McKiernan's house on Pali Drive caught fire March 1. They also found a 25-foot-long tunnel stocked with what was later reported to be barrels of food and water.
Authorities initially arrested him because he wrestled with firefighters as they tried to keep him out of his burning house.
He was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside in lieu of $100,000 bail.
The possession-of-explosives charge to which McKiernan pleaded guilty Tuesday is a felony. The weapons-possession and resisting-arrest counts are misdemeanors.
Mayman said a person can legally possess only one pound of black powder in Riverside County. McKiernan reportedly had more than 70 pounds in his possession.
The county allows 20 pounds of smokeless powder, but McKiernan reportedly had about 116.
The prosecutor said illegal storage of the powder is dangerous because it can explode in a confined space. McKiernan's powder will be destroyed as hazardous waste.
Mayman said he was comfortable dismissing two of the illegal-weapons possession counts because McKiernan appears to be a gun enthusiast whose collection had fallen out of compliance as state gun laws evolved.
McKiernan had three Chinese-made SKS weapons - the only ones in his collection of 110 guns that required permits - that were classified as assault weapons after a California ban in 2000, Mayman said.
"He owned them prior to the law going into effect, and he didn't think they classified as assault weapons, so he didn't register them," Mayman said. "That's why we charged him with a misdemeanor, not a felony. This is not a guy who blatantly smuggled them into California knowing they were illegal."
Still, McKiernan's assault weapons will be destroyed, he said.
Mayman said he has received several calls from people contending McKiernan is being persecuted for merely being a gun collector.
But Mayman emphasized the guns were not the problem.
"A lot of these weapons he had were collector's items, like Garand weapons from World War II in mint condition. So, this was not an armory," he said. "But we didn't prosecute him for having a gun collection. We prosecuted him for storing volatile materials."
Michael Cernyar, McKiernan's attorney, said his client has received a lot of support from the Norco community.
"He appreciates that support, and it's picked up his confidence," Cernyar said. "At this point, he just wants to move on with his life. ... In a little less than a week, he lost his house, was placed in jail for the first time in his life, and he lost a lot of his memorables."
McKiernan's house was condemned after the fire.
Cernyar said he does not know what McKiernan will do after his home of 32 years is razed.
Before jumping to conclusions please note that Riverside County is a very gun friendly county.
"Mayman said he was comfortable dismissing two of the illegal-weapons possession counts because McKiernan appears to be a gun enthusiast whose collection had fallen out of compliance as state gun laws evolved."
ALSO
"He owned them prior to the law going into effect, and he didn't think they classified as assault weapons, so he didn't register them," Mayman said. "That's why we charged him with a misdemeanor, not a felony. This is not a guy who blatantly smuggled them into California knowing they were illegal."
If this was Los Angeles County, believe you me, he would be up on Assault Weapons charges as a felony and not a misdemeanor, see the District Attorney's statements above.
I personally don't think ANY gun law is constitutional, but this happening in California, and the guy getting all the gun charges dismissed or knocked down to a misdemeanor is a step forward.
Joined
·
2,142 Posts
That artile makes it seem like the SKS was banned in 2000... Which is not the case! Only the SPORTERIZED one was banned. They didn't go into detail over if his were or not...
Joined
·
801 Posts
the fire did not cause his house to be condemned, he had a tunnel dug under his garage that he stored rice and oil and stuff in - they condemned his place becuase he did that tunnel without a permit.
I remember this guy well, he was dubbed 'the million round man' as the media was all over the neighborhood telling this guy had over 1 million 'machine gun bullets' in his house, causing all kinds of BS
I remember this guy well, he was dubbed 'the million round man' as the media was all over the neighborhood telling this guy had over 1 million 'machine gun bullets' in his house, causing all kinds of BS
Joined
·
310 Posts
The fact is this gun owner will NOT be allowed to ever own a firearm again, because of bogus the gun laws!! If he is so much is found with a firearm, he will got to prison for 8-10 years. Yet, the MS-13 gang is wreaking havoc in LA and rest of CA., and with LIMITED resources, why don’t these bimbos go AFTER the REAL criminal!! It is TOO easy and poses no real danger to any one to go after law-abiding citizens, that’s why!! An easy hit, and another notch in the DA’s butt stock, so he can show he is “protecting” the public from “dangerous” criminals!! There is no jumping to conclusions here!!!
Joined
·
1,167 Posts
I'm confused, if they are dropping the charges down to misdeameanors, then why would he be barred from weapons ownership?
Forget that I said that, just saw they charged him with a felony on the explosives....assholes...
Joined
·
1,334 Posts
I'm just guessing but I'd bet money that the odds of a house being blown up by LP or natural gas are greater than having a house go up from a 116 lbs. of gun powder. Something the average hysterical media reporter wouldn't research.
I am not disagreeing with you. I personally do not believe in ANY gun law. Furthermore, I state openly that anyone who believes in even 1 gun law is a traitor to the cause and not worth calling himself a 2nd amendment believer.
What I am saying is, seeing that this is California, and what any other DA here could have charged him with, believe me that he is getting off easy. Do I condone the fact that he is facing charges? Not at all. Again, I do not believe in a single gun law, period.
Joined
·
1,167 Posts
Sooo.......It's ok with you to hand a firearm to a confirmed psychopath
, schitzo , confirmed mass murderer or child, perhaps like a 5 or 6 year old?
Joined
·
310 Posts
I agree he got off easy, this time! But, at my age and the way I feel, there probably would have NOT been any charges! Just a few body bags, here and there!
Joined
·
310 Posts
I am under the impression that a misdemeanor might be a problem in a NICS check, not always, but some time. And yes, the "felony" did him in. But, like I say, no problem here, just as long as there would have been enough body bags. However, the retards Feinstein, Kerry, Kennedy, Reidtard, Hillarytard, and the other retards are gloating that another "threat" to our” national security” has been “neutralized”!!!
Dying for your country has taken on a whole new meaning!!!!
Dying for your country has taken on a whole new meaning!!!!
What a stupid reasoning. Unless I am talking to a retard or a 5 year old.Sooo.......It's ok with you to hand a firearm to a confirmed psychopath
Joined
·
1,167 Posts
There was absolutely no reasoning in my question. It's based entirely off of your statement, which has no reasoning in that you state NO gun law is appropriate and that anyone that believes in any gun law is a traitor. You were pretty clear cut, no gray areas.
Clearly, some kind of gun law MUST be in place, otherwise, retards, schitzos, murderers and children would be able to be in possesion. If theres no gun law placing an age restriction on firearms possession, then a child can have a stick of juicy fruit just like he can then have a cute little .25 in his pocket. There's nothing retarded here, it's just that your statement was a bit extreme in denouncing any type of regulation.
Now that you agree that my sarcastic statement for you allowing a retard, schitzo, psychopath or child to have a gun would be CRAZY and innapropriate, how do you propose to prohibit those people from possesing a firearm unless you create a gun law outlining those limitations?
And then, if you support legislating to prevent the above mentioned classes of people from having guns, aren't you already supporting some type of gun law?
Joined
·
1,156 Posts
hmmm this is really an in depth soul searching type of thinking going on here for a news story thats is old as hell..
I just noticed your sig line that you are an FFL. Of course you would enthusiastically support gun laws, otherwise, you would be out of business.
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
