Sonora, CA…From the Tuolumne Sheriff’s Dept…Yesterday afternoon, the High Risk Supervision Team consisting of Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office personnel and Deputy Probation Officers conducted a probation search at the residence of 39-year-old Angel Cepeda and her son, 24-year-old Joseph Cepeda. Both are on Tuolumne County probation for narcotics related charges and live together in the Starr Mobile Home Park in Sonora.

During a search of Joseph Cepeda’s room, drug paraphernalia, a destructive device and an expandable baton type weapon were located. The destructive device appeared to be a homemade pipe bomb. Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office was called to assist our deputies with the pipe bomb.

Joseph Cepeda was booked into the county jail for felony possession of a destructive device, felony possession of a billy club, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Two others were located at the residence at the time of the probation search; 24-year-old Armando Gonzalez and 25-year-old Brian Young. Gonzalez was on searchable probation and was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and was also arrested for a felony probation violation. Young was found in possession of M-80 style fireworks and was arrested for illegal possession of fireworks.

Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office bomb personnel responded to the Starr Mobile Home Park and rendered the destructive device safe.

It is illegal and dangerous to build homemade destructive devices. We are thankful no one was injured and to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.