Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Nov. 28, 2021, at about 8:30 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol near Loleta conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired registration.

During the traffic stop, deputies learned that the driver, 39-year-old Demarcus Earl Conley, was a convicted felon restricted from possessing firearms. Deputies observed a rifle case inside the vehicle in plain view. Inside the case, deputies located an unloaded firearm that did not have a serial number, commonly known as a “ghost gun.”

Conley was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)), manufacturing a firearm without obtaining a serial number (PC 29180(G)) and driving with a suspended license (VC 14601.1(a)).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.