Man charged with possession pleads not guilty

A Costa Mesa man who allegedly threatened his wife, a family court judge and Huntington Beach police pleaded not guilty Monday to keeping a small cache of weapons and explosives in his home with the intent to use them.

Ronald Turner, 44, is charged with keeping bombs, guns and ammunition in his Costa Mesa home with two children unrelated to him staying in the next room, adding child endangerment charges to his case.

Turner was on probation for domestic violence and had a warrant out for his arrest after he failed to attend a batterer’s treatment program, prosecutors said.

Last week, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach police notified the Orange County Sheriff’s Department that Turner was in possession of bombs and guns and had made threats against his estranged wife and the judge overseeing their family law case. Turner was pulled over on the 22 Freeway on Wednesday and police found handcuffs, pepper spray, throwing knives and a stolen, loaded handgun in his car, according to officials.

Police found two large pipe bombs with timers, two homemade handguns, bomb-making materials, tactical equipment, a bullet proof vest and listening devices inside his home in the 200 block of Magnolia Street when they arrested him Wednesday night.

The bomb squad detonated the two pipe bombs, Orange County Sheriff’s officials said.

Turner could be sentenced to up to 13 years in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to be back in Santa Ana court July 11. He is in custody without bail.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].