A Rancho Bernardo man, who prosecutors say had an “arsenal of weapons” accessible to his children, pleaded not guilty Thursday to more than a dozen weapons charges.
Neal James Anders, 45, was arrested after his 14-year-old son allegedly made threats to carry out a shooting at Rancho Bernardo High School.
Deputy District Attorney Roza Egiazarian said the boy told several classmates “to not go to school on Tuesday, the 30th, because he was bringing guns to school.”
A defense attorney for Anders, whom he identified as an employee of a defense contractor, said Thursday that all of the weapons he owned were in a locked case. But the prosecutor alleged that the teen claimed a lock securing the firearms was broken, allowing him access to the firearms.
Anders’ son also was arrested, though prosecutors declined to comment Thursday on what charges he may face. A San Diego County District Attorney’s spokesperson said the teen has a hearing in juvenile court on Feb. 9.
After a gun violence restraining order was served on Anders’ son, police searched the family’s home and a storage facility, the prosecutor said.
Egiazarian said police found 19 AR-style weapons, including nine unserialized rifles, multiple pistols, magazines, ammunition of various calibers, flamethrowers, armored vests, gas masks and items that can be used to assemble firearms.
Investigators also found a “Dragon’s Breath” round, which the prosecutor said are incendiary rounds that can shoot “a 200-yard wall of fire.” That round led to a possession of a destructive device count against Anders.
He also faces charges for his alleged possession of a short-barreled rifle and the unserialized assault rifles.
Investigators found a rocket launcher and multiple grenades, but those were all inert, according to the prosecutor.
Anders faces just over three years in state prison if convicted of all counts. He remains in custody on $300,000 bail.
His defense attorney, Gregory Garrison, unsuccessfully sought a reduction of his client’s bail to $70,000, which he said more appropriately reflected the counts Anders is charged with.
Garrison said his client has no criminal history and was not a flight risk or a danger to the community.
The attorney said Anders has strong ties to the community, holds a “secret clearance” and that his employer, an unnamed military contractor, “anxiously awaits his return to work.”
The attorney also noted that police have seized all of Anders’ firearms and that Anders would agree not to possess any other weapons if released.
– City News Service