LANCASTER – A 41-year-old felon was arrested Tuesday after authorities raided a Lancaster home and found a stolen handgun, marijuana and a large amount of cash, according to a press release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. Read it below:
[Around 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 20] Lancaster Station Narcotics Detectives served a search warrant at a residence located on the 43700 Block of Mikosasky Avenue.
They found a stolen semi-auto handgun, a shotgun, 1/8 oz. of Marijuana, and a large amount of U.S. Currency.
In the home, they located suspect William Byrd.
He was transported to the Lancaster Station Jail for booking.
Suspect Byrd was charged with possession of marijuana for sales, possession of a stolen firearm, and a felon in possession of a firearm. He was held on $50,000 bail.
Bob says
You mean to tell me a criminal didn’t purchase his firearms legally, but instead used a stolen weapon? Maybe if California restricts our 2nd Amendment rights a little more the criminals will stop this behavior and things will get safer.
blue says
I agree! The government will keep us safe!
Eren says
Your statement is a joke …OKAY ? Give me a F’n break seriously the government will keep us safe what government are you talking about.???LMFAO
William says
Oh, Bob
The gun lobby has made it nearly impossible for the government to regulate guns in this county for many decades.
So, there are nearly as many guns as people in the U.S.
Many of them are unregistered and in the hands of criminals.
Sooooooooo, the gun lobby says “We need more guns to protect ourselves from the criminals that we enabled to have such easy access to guns.”.
It’s called ‘a self-fulfilling prophesy’ or ‘agenda’.
Isn’t that so, Bob?
Jay says
You ever here of a dealer waiting to “re-up” on his supply? Maybe that’s why his supply was so low when they hit his house?? Maybe that’s why he had all that money, so he could purchase some more weed to sell? The article stated he is a convicted felon which means he has been convicted of a felony and is not allowed to own a firearm or have access to a firearm, let alone a stolen pistol. There are more factors that probably went into this case than just the marijuana. You ever consider they may have a bit more evidence than just the marijuana? How bout the digital scale and people arrested/cited with possession of marijuana, after leaving his house? I’m sure the neighbors are sick and tired of this house and are happy something was done, like putting his ass in jail. And just because he is out of jail, doesn’t mean anything. You can bond out of jail and fight your case at a later time. That doesn’t mean he’s innocent just because he’s out already! People in the Valley need to educate yourselves on some facts, other than, “oh it’s just a bit of weed and he’s a good guy!” Come on, that’s BS!!
too funny says
What’s up with the empty pill bottle. Lol. Look just because someone is a convicted felon legally. They can not own a gun but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to have one for protection. .Like the rest of us. look at most mass killing They. Are done by people. With no criminal. History. besides the likely. Hood of some breaking into his House is the same like the rest of us. You think people say dont break into his House his a convicted. Felon. .. ummm no!
Geez says
“Large amount of US currency”…. Yeah we can’t have that.
Av folk says
Right? Must have got the money from there narcotics that the found lol
mac says
Ever hear of dealers running low on supply, and using that cash to re-up on more supply?
guns are OK says
I don’t think the pot is the big thing here. But that is what everyone is asking is the big deal here.. .. Didn’t anyone take note of that gun… Really… Not your everyday garden variety…. Right.. Hmmmmm,smh
me again says
Stolen firearms I might add…. Why would someone need stolen guns.. If he was the good citizen… Some of you people say he is……
Calling BS says
^^^ this!!
Eric says
No, those are run of the mill guns. The handgun is a Ruger, likely the 9mm P89. Beautiful gun, quality piece, not cheap. The shotgun is typical pump with a collapsible stock. Plenty of homes have the equivalent of both.
The issue wasn’t the gun. Its that the gun was stolen.
Av folk says
This^^
[removed] says
William Byrd is out of jail already this article does not make sense as to why it’s everyone’s business that a guy had a gun and an eighth that’s not even a misdemeanor… His bail was not 50k either it was 35k please het facts right he was released before this even came up he spent 2 hours at the station
Calling BS says
The point is he is a FELON with drugs and guns. That’s a heck of a lot more than a misdemeanor. Too bad he’s out already, if that is true.
Cannabis enthusiast says
Cannabis is not a drug it’s a plant and less then an oz is an infraction not even a misdemeanor just so you know…
Irena says
Because he was a felon, there are special circumstances attached.
There are many drugs that come from plants, many that can be very dangerous. Just because it comes from nature doesn’t mean it isn’t harmful.
Av folk says
Name 3 other the opiates and cannabis and ignorant POS there is no “special circumstance” for felon caught with in an eighth lol get your facts right lady does it say he was on parole or probation ? No I don’t think so so he paid his dies to society. Get out of here with that bs
Irena says
He is a felon, which means he is not allowed to have a gun. That is a violation and that alone can send him back to prison
Felon says
But he’s already out ;)
Irena says
Out on bail until his hearing. Now it is possible that he did all his time (no parole) he could have petitioned to have his civil right restored (voting and gun right etc).
go says
can he apply for that while he is out on bail?
Av folk says
Just because somebody is a felon does not mean they have been to prison, this man is a good guy and he did not do anything wrong, this was a NARCOTICS warrant and he did not have any drugs other then an eighth which is an infraction in California I call bs on this case , yes he was already released I looked on the sheriffs website
Calling BS says
There are SO MANY things wrong with this statement. Good guy. LMAO.
Av folk says
Nothing is wrong with it you ignorant POS you can spend a month in the county Jail for a felony and it is an infraction look it up before you call “bs” and they are good quality guns typical of a normal household just so you know, plain and simple the man just had stolen guns that were found in a narcotics search that turned up no narcotics…
Irena says
@Av Folk I think you are confused. An infraction is usually something that has a fine attached to it, but no jail or prison time.
A misdemeanor usually has a fine and/or jail time
A felony has jail or prison time attached to it.
A felony can’t be an infraction.
Now it is possible for someone who originally committed a misdemeanor to be charged later with a felony if they are on probation and re-offend. But according to the article, the person was already a convicted felon.
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/crimes-felonies-misdemeanors-infractions-classification-33814.html
Av folk says
Where does it say he has even been to prison?
Irena says
Felony=prison in most circumstances. There may be a few instances where for some reason he didn’t go to prison but most of the time a person would serve time. When someone is referred to as a felon, that means that committed a felony which under the law carries a prison sentence of more then 1 year. A person may not have served that much time, but they were still convicted of a felony.
Av folk says
Look up the cannabis la in ca for possession of cannabis sativa under 1 oz… Your the one who is confused it’s an infraction the gun is the felony haha
JAY says
comment is to “AV FOLK”….If you are charged for possession for sales of marijuana and all the factors are there for you selling it, it doesn’t matter how much you have, even if less that an ounce! Selling marijuana makes it a felony, period! AV FOLK, why don’t you go ahead and look up 11359 H&S that may help you understand the law a bit better ;-)….
Irena says
@AV Folk I think you missed the part where it says he is already a convicted felon. The marijuana arrest isn’t what I was commenting on really. The fact that he was a felon with a gun (stolen or not) it is illegal for a felon to own a or have access to a gun. I didn’t say that the marijuana was a felony. If that amount had been found on someone else without the other items, yes it would have just been a ticket because under CA law that is an infraction.
There are other factors regarding the marijuana. The large amounts of cash and possible items and/or circumstances led the police to believe he had intent to sell.
Will the DA decide to file charges based on what the police say and found? Who knows. The police will usually arrest a person with the highest crime possible under the law and it is up to the DA to see if they feel there is a case. Then of course there are plea bargains.
Good citizen says
He is being charged for possession for sales for 1/8 of on oz?
That’s a joke I smoke more then that in a day (legally of course).
It was just in one bag as you can see in the picture unless they put it in there which I doubt so how are they charging with possession for sale haha
Eren says
You believe everything you read most of this is false. Cops had to do something to cover their asses when they thought they were gonna come up on a dude. Now their making up stories and trying to ruin a guys life over an eighth of weed.
I’m not gonna speak on the rest of the items found . I’m not trying to ruin this guys defense, or trying to ruin anything else for this man. I only hope he’s gonna fight these good for nothing cops and win. Trust and believe theirs more to this story and their were a few people in that house that had medical marijuana cards. So whats up with that? And a eighth of weed doesn’t make for a dealer, or for an arrest for that matter. Ridiculous! There are sheriffs out here that are no good and I hope all you criticizing this story and judging and believing everything you read never have to find out what I’m talking about, trust and believe if your a resident here in the AV your not out of the equation. That’s the honest to gods truth. Just because the paper says it or the sheriffs report it doesn’t make it true and I hope none of you are ever on the other end of this mess because its a nightmare. Wake up people. I don’t know how these sheriffs can sleep at night doing what they do, it makes me scared and sick to my stomach. I hope someone comes forth and blows their corruption asses right out of the water. I guarantee their will be eventually and you will all get to see what I’m talking about. What was your reaction to Rampart when that story broke. Its just as bad here. We need to carry guns, we may need protection from them (the ones sworn to protect and to serve) that’s a frigging joke, they are the biggest gang around. In my eyes they are the criminals and I know it to be true I don’t care what anyone says. Open your eyes it could be you or someone you really care about. This is someones life at stake here you never know it could be you!!!!!