L.A. man faces assault rifle charge in Mono County

Moving should be simple, but a recent incident spelled the opposite for a Los Angeles man. According to Bridgeport California Highway Patrol, on Friday, Sept. 24, John Anthony, 54, was transporting some of his belongings from Southern California to Colorado when his vehicle and a small U-Haul trailer being towed behind it overturned on northbound U.S. 395 across from Mammoth Airport. Upon investigation of the vehicles, CHP officers reportedly found as many as 10 firearms, and based on the types of weapons found plan to seek felony charges of possession of an assault weapon.

Officers said Anthony was apparently driving at an excessive speed when the U-Haul trailer began to fishtail. Officers said Anthony was unable to regain control of his vehicle, and consequently his Land Rover and U-Haul veered off the highway and down a dirt embankment, where they overturned.

Anthony suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Mammoth Hospital. Officers later found a number of firearms, and at first cited and released him for a concealed weapons misdemeanor violation. Further inspection, however, confirmed that one of Anthony’s rifles was in violation of the California Assault Weapons Act, leading CHP to pursue filing felony charges. According to CHP Officer Doug Northington, a “Plumcrazy” 5.56mm caliber rifle, one of Anthony’s complement of guns, is considered an assault rifle. –Sheet Staff