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Sawed off shotgun lands two in jail
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Two repudiated gang members were taken into custody Monday after they were caught in possession of a sawed off shotgun in Delhi, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department reported.Joel Navarro, 18, and Lorenzo Gonzalez, 20, were both arrested and charged with possession of a concealed weapon, removing the serial number from a firearm, possession of a firearm by a street gang member, and gang enhancements. Gonzalez was also booked on violation of probation charges and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.Around 10:30 a.m. Monday the sheriff’s department received a report of two men carrying some type of firearm into an apartment in the 16000 block of Delhi Avenue. When deputies arrived to investigate the situation they found a yellow shotgun shell in a trash can, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie.Upon making contact at the apartment, one of the deputies recognized Navarro as a gang member, MacKenzie said.Along with Navarro and Gonzalez, there were three women, another man and an infant in the apartment.A search of the apartment was conducted and deputies found a sawed off shotgun inside a hall closet. Additionally, two shot gun shells that matched the one found outside were located in a toilet, MacKenzie said.The 12-gauge shotgun had the stock cut off to form a pistol grip, the barrel had been cut down and the serial numbers were filed off, MacKenzie said.After interviewing everyone involved, Gonzalez confessed to owning the weapon and said he was picked up by Navarro as he was walking in front of Schendel School in Delhi.Gonzalez remains in custody on $82,000 bail while Navarro’s bail is $65,000.To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.