Teenagers arrested in case of stolen pistol

Three juveniles who allegedly committed a series of car break-ins in the Gardnerville Ranchos on May 26 were arrested Monday morning.

The 17-year-old boy was arrested at Douglas High School and booked into the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center. He is charged with burglary, grand theft of a firearm, unlawful sale of a firearm and minor in possession of a firearm.

The 15-year-old boy was arrested at home and taken to a youth detention center for burglary and aggravated theft of weapons.

The 14-year-old boy was arrested at Pau Wa Lu Middle School and booked into the detention center on charges of burglary.

A 16-year-old juvenile who was released on parole was arrested Friday night with a loaded Ruger pistol that he stole during the car break-ins in which the three other juveniles were also involved.

The arrest was the culmination of a two-day investigation that began on June 5, when officers and investigators with 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 made contact with the 17-year-old male and recovered the handgun. It was determined that he had obtained the Springfield Armory handgun from a 16-year-old male from Gardnerville.

On Friday, investigators interviewed the 16-year-old Gardnerville resident, who admitted to selling the 17-year-old the Springfield Armory pistol. The 16-year-old Gardnerville resident also admitted to committing numerous car thefts in the Gardnerville Ranchos along with another 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy (both from Gardnerville).

The 16-year-old admitted that the Springfield Armory pistol was stolen from a vehicle during the burglary spree. The theft of this pistol had not even been reported to the sheriff’s office.

It turned out that the Ruger pistol had been sold to a 16-year-old male Gardnerville resident who was on juvenile probation for auto theft.

Investigators found the 16-year-old parolee at the Lampe Park Fair on Friday night. He had the loaded Ruger pistol in his pants pocket when he was called at the fair.

The 17-year-old Minden resident was booked into the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center for possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm while a minor.

The three juveniles who committed the car break-ins at the Ranchos face charges of burglary and weapons possession.

The 16-year-old parolee was booked into the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of violating probation, possession of a stolen firearm, prohibited possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm while underage.