http://www.ocregister.com/community/crimecourts/guns2w.shtml
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crime & courts
Groundskeeper pleads not guilty
COURTS: He is accused of stealing school
property, but no weapons charges have been filed
against him.
October 2, 1999
By HEATHER LOURIE
The Orange County Register
A school groundskeeper who had 80 assault-type weapons seized
from his San Clemente home pleaded not guilty Friday to felony
charges of receiving stolen property.
Jerry Peacock, 43, is accused of taking rakes, shovels, ladders,
work boots and cleaning supplies from the Capistrano Unified
School District.
But while authorities said they are investigating whether the man's
guns are stolen or illegally obtained, Peacock wasn't charged with
any weapons violations.
"We're reviewing the case," said Tori Richards, spokeswoman for
the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Police, however, said they were hopeful that additional charges
would be filed.
"I don't consider this to be a gun collection, personally," said
Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Fred Lisanti.
Gary Pohlson, Peacock's attorney, said his client is a gun collector
who was storing the weapons for other people.
"This is a vendetta against him," Pohlson said. "This person has no
record. He's never been in trouble. He's just a nice guy."
Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Gary Paer reduced
Peacock's $1 million bail to $25,000.
Deputies went to Peacock's West Marquita home Wednesday to
serve a search warrant for the allegedly stolen school-district
property. They discovered the guns, locked in two safes, along
with hand grenades and at least 50,000 rounds of ammunition in
cookie tins and boxes, sheriff's officials said.
The defendant's father, Ronald Peacock, 64, of Florida, said his
son has collected guns for more than two decades and frequently
goes to gun shows.
"He only went to the range with them," Ronald Peacock said. "He
always had them locked up safe. He does everything by the book.
... He's a good kid."
Peacock accused Capistrano Unified of setting up his son after he
and two co-workers were awarded $215,000 in a sexual
harassment lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that they had suffered
retaliation after reporting that a supervisor had committed a lewd
act. The district is appealing.
"They've harassed him ever since he's been back to work," Ronald
Peacock said about the district.
School officials disagreed.
"I wouldn't even dignify such a ridiculous allegation with a
response," said Superintendent James A. Fleming. "His life was not
hell."
Fleming said the district got a call a few weeks ago from an
anonymous neighbor who said Jerry Peacock had district property
at his home. Fleming said Capistrano Unified subsequently called
authorities.
"He made no secret of his interest in guns," Fleming said.[/quote]
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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
crime & courts
Groundskeeper pleads not guilty
COURTS: He is accused of stealing school
property, but no weapons charges have been filed
against him.
October 2, 1999
By HEATHER LOURIE
The Orange County Register
A school groundskeeper who had 80 assault-type weapons seized
from his San Clemente home pleaded not guilty Friday to felony
charges of receiving stolen property.
Jerry Peacock, 43, is accused of taking rakes, shovels, ladders,
work boots and cleaning supplies from the Capistrano Unified
School District.
But while authorities said they are investigating whether the man's
guns are stolen or illegally obtained, Peacock wasn't charged with
any weapons violations.
"We're reviewing the case," said Tori Richards, spokeswoman for
the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Police, however, said they were hopeful that additional charges
would be filed.
"I don't consider this to be a gun collection, personally," said
Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Fred Lisanti.
Gary Pohlson, Peacock's attorney, said his client is a gun collector
who was storing the weapons for other people.
"This is a vendetta against him," Pohlson said. "This person has no
record. He's never been in trouble. He's just a nice guy."
Orange County Superior Court Commissioner Gary Paer reduced
Peacock's $1 million bail to $25,000.
Deputies went to Peacock's West Marquita home Wednesday to
serve a search warrant for the allegedly stolen school-district
property. They discovered the guns, locked in two safes, along
with hand grenades and at least 50,000 rounds of ammunition in
cookie tins and boxes, sheriff's officials said.
The defendant's father, Ronald Peacock, 64, of Florida, said his
son has collected guns for more than two decades and frequently
goes to gun shows.
"He only went to the range with them," Ronald Peacock said. "He
always had them locked up safe. He does everything by the book.
... He's a good kid."
Peacock accused Capistrano Unified of setting up his son after he
and two co-workers were awarded $215,000 in a sexual
harassment lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that they had suffered
retaliation after reporting that a supervisor had committed a lewd
act. The district is appealing.
"They've harassed him ever since he's been back to work," Ronald
Peacock said about the district.
School officials disagreed.
"I wouldn't even dignify such a ridiculous allegation with a
response," said Superintendent James A. Fleming. "His life was not
hell."
Fleming said the district got a call a few weeks ago from an
anonymous neighbor who said Jerry Peacock had district property
at his home. Fleming said Capistrano Unified subsequently called
authorities.
"He made no secret of his interest in guns," Fleming said.[/quote]
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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
(I wanted to put a smiley but it just ain't funny.)
