Felon, passenger arrested after authorities find gun
Stop for missing license plates ends with pair facing several charges
MILPITAS — A convicted felon from San Jose was arrested this past week while driving on North McCarthy Boulevard on suspicion of possessing a loaded firearm, according to the Milpitas Police Department.
His passenger, a 24-yearold Morgan Hill resident, was arrested on a warrant on a narcotics charge.
Police said they stopped the pair’s silver Ford Explorer near Ranch Drive at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday after noticing that the SUV did not have license plates. The driver, 37-year-old Jorge Barra-Molina, had an misdemeanor arrest warrant for petty theft from Milpitas police, authorities said.
Police said they found a loaded .45 caliber handgun concealed under Barra-Molina’s seat.
His passenger, identified by police as Janae Elizabeth Patel, had a misdemeanor arrest warrant for a narcotics violation from the San Jose State University Police Department. Patel was also on probation for theft in Santa Clara County, authorities said.
Barra-Molina was booked into the Santa Clara County jail on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, being in possession of a concealed and loaded firearm in a vehicle and for his misdemeanor warrant, police said.
Patel was booked into the jail for her misdemeanor warrant.