Calif. utility worker had machine guns, grenade launcher, explosives, report says

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Image from the website of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

/ ladwp.com

(CBS) LOS ANGELES - John Hunten, a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power employee, was arrested Feb. 1 after police found several machine guns and a grenade launcher in his home, The Los Angeles Times reports.

According to the paper, the 45-year-old Hunten is charged with 60 felony counts, almost all illegal weapon charges. He could face up to eight years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Hunten pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday.

Police initially visited Hunten's residence in an investigation into high-end wood he is accused of stealing from the Department of Water and Power, the paper says. When police arrived, they discovered a box containing explosives in his garage and an assortment of assault rifles and ammunition inside his home, the paper reports.

According to the paper, Hunten is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms.

Detectives also found wood, reportedly worth about $100,000, behind Hunten's home. Police say it might have been used to build a deck, the paper reports.

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by [oweghn February 7, 2013 7:00 PM EST

Sixty felony counts and he could spend "up to 8 years in prison." A felony is defined as being punishable by more than 1 year in prison. Why isn't he looking at 60 years in prison? Is there a problem in our judicial system?

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by MrRoper February 7, 2013 8:24 PM EST: So a felony in Calif. is punishable by a little over a month in jail, s what is a misdermeaner.

by Sax1031 February 7, 2013 4:31 PM EST

but but but, if they are not sold in stores they can't be bought

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by arthanyel February 7, 2013 5:17 PM EST: No law can stop all illegal activity. However, you also cannot stop a burglar from stealing everything in your house - any lock or security system can be defeated. But that doesn't mean you shuld leaves your doors and windows open and put a sign on your lawn saying "Come on in!"

Many criminals will always have guns, and that is why law abiding, sane and competent citizens must also be able to have guns. But we can do a lot to cut down the number of dealers and sources that feed the criminal system, and we can do a lot to cut down on the incompetent and mentally ill gettting guns - and we need to do everything we CAN do to minimize the damage. Because while the majority of Americans strongly support the Second Amendment, there is no reason we shouldn't keep as many guns as possible OUT of the hands of people who should NOT have them.