A La Center man faces more than a dozen charges following an investigation into firearms and drug trafficking.
On April 17, Noah Sandoval, 41, made his first appearance in Clark County Superior Court. His bail was set at $150,000. Sandoval faces charges of 11 counts of unlawful firearm possession, a count of possession of a stolen firearm, and four counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute including cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin, according to court documents.
He is scheduled for an arraignment hearing May 1.
Sandoval was arrested at a La Center residence on April 14 and was a named suspect in a drug trafficking and unlawful firearm possession investigation, according to a probable cause affidavit. When contacted by law enforcement, Sandoval left the residence and was detained without incident.
Sandoval voluntarily showed investigators where they could find evidence at the residence, the affidavit stated. The search turned up about two pounds of methamphetamine, about 5,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills, and substances that tested positive for cocaine.
Sandoval said he recently purchased the methamphetamine and fentanyl, and was using the cocaine to make crack cocaine, according to the affidavit. Investigators also found digital scales and packaging materials at the residence.
The investigators also found 11 firearms throughout the residence, the affidavit stated. None of the firearms were stored in safes and some were loaded with magazines.
Sandoval is a convicted felon and isn’t allowed to possess firearms, according to the affidavit. One of the firearms was stolen out of Vancouver.
Sandoval told investigators he purchased the firearms with cash from various people, the affidavit stated.
The Vancouver Police Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Safe Streets Task Force and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Detective Unit, a news release stated.
