Hesperia arrests: deputies seize ghost guns, meth, destructive devices and three stolen vehicles
Two Hesperia men were arrested after the Apple Valley Station Gang Enforcement Team seized unserialized “ghost guns,” suspected methamphetamine, destructive devices, high‑capacity magazines and three stolen vehicles during a traffic stop and search warrant.
Key takeaways
- Who: Coltin Fant, 32, and Michael Sardegna Jr., 30, both Hesperia residents.
- What: Deputies recovered unserialized “ghost guns,” suspected methamphetamine, destructive devices, high‑capacity magazines and three stolen vehicles.
- Where & When: Traffic stop and search warrant in the 10000 block of Fourth Avenue in Hesperia; arrests occurred Friday during a follow‑up probe.
- Charges & Bail: Fant faces conspiracy and weapons charges ($30,000 bail); Sardegna Jr. faces drug and destructive‑device charges ($290,000 bail).
Investigation and arrests
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s detectives say the probe began after leads about illegal firearms possession in Hesperia. The Apple Valley Station Gang Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle tied to the investigation and contacted the driver, 32‑year‑old Coltin Fant of Hesperia. Deputies located an unserialized firearm on Fant and detained him without incident, according to a written statement from the department — Victor Valley News.
As detectives continued the investigation, they obtained and served a search warrant at a residence in the 10000 block of Fourth Avenue in Hesperia. Deputies contacted 30‑year‑old Michael Sardegna Jr. at the property. During the warrant search, authorities located additional firearms, suspected methamphetamine, destructive devices, high‑capacity magazines and three stolen vehicles parked on the property; all items were seized as evidence — Victor Valley News.
What are “ghost guns”?
The term “ghost guns” refers to firearms that lack serial numbers or are assembled from parts and are not easily traceable through normal serial‑number tracking. Deputies described the weapons recovered in this case as unserialized — the type commonly called ghost guns — which can complicate tracing and investigations. Local law enforcement has flagged such firearms as an increasing public safety concern — Victor Valley News.
Charges, bail and detention
Coltin Fant was booked on charges including conspiracy, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a large‑capacity magazine and possession of stolen property. He is being held at the High Desert Detention Center on $30,000 bail.
Michael Sardegna Jr. was booked on charges that include possession of a controlled substance while armed and possession of a destructive device. He is held at the High Desert Detention Center on $290,000 bail. The sheriff’s office said all seized items were recovered and are part of an ongoing investigation — Victor Valley News.
Law enforcement response and local resources
The operation was led by the Apple Valley Station Gang Enforcement Team, a unit that targets crimes often tied to organized groups, gangs or patterns of illegal activity. Deputies used a traffic stop to safely detain a suspect and executed a search warrant to recover additional evidence; no injuries were reported during the stop or warrant service.
“Detectives worked methodically, using a traffic stop to safely detain a suspect and a search warrant to recover additional evidence,” the sheriff’s statement said.
Anyone with information linked to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Apple Valley Police Station at (760) 240‑7400 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956‑5001. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may contact the www.wetip.com hotline at 1‑800‑78CRIME (27463) — Victor Valley News.
Context: stolen vehicles, methamphetamine and destructive devices
Investigators noted the concerning mix of stolen vehicles, suspected methamphetamine and destructive devices recovered at a single property. Stolen cars can facilitate movement for criminal activity, methamphetamine is frequently tied to property crimes, and destructive devices present clear public safety risks. Recovering these items together can help detectives connect potential networks involving property crime, drug distribution and illegal weapons possession.
Public safety, legal backdrop and implications
California law restricts large‑capacity magazines and places requirements on firearm sales and traceability. Unserialized firearms — ghost guns — remain a focus of enforcement because they hinder tracing weapons used in crimes. This operation illustrates local coordination between targeted enforcement units and detectives to remove illegal weapons and drugs from neighborhoods.
- Community safety: Removing illegal weapons and drugs aims to reduce theft, violence and public risk.
- Law enforcement resources: Effective gang enforcement relies on staffing, training and interagency cooperation.
- Criminal trends: The spread of ghost guns, stolen vehicles and methamphetamine reflects broader national concerns about untraceable firearms and property crime.
- Public involvement: Tips from residents can be crucial to advancing investigations.
Reporting and next steps for readers
The sheriff’s department provided no additional court‑date details in its statement. Local reporting has relied on the agency’s account; the investigation is ongoing. Deputies urged residents with information to come forward through the contacts listed above.
