November 9, 2023 - Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office officials report that on November 6, 2023, at about 10:30 p.m., Deputy Ruezga was conducting extra patrol and enforcement in Keyes due to increased violent crime in the area. Deputy Ruezga located a suspicious vehicle that was registered out of the area, parked in front of a residence located in the 5400 block of Rhode Road. In the car were two occupants, a male and a female. The male told Deputy Ruezga he was in town to buy a car transmission from someone. While Deputy Ruezga was speaking to the occupants of the vehicle, a male, later identified as Cory En, walked out of the residence towards Deputy Ruezga with a handgun in his hand. Cory En was immediately detained and placed in handcuffs.

A search warrant of the home Cory En came out of was conducted. During the search, deputies found firearm parts, controlled substance bottles, one shotgun, two riffles, and three completed pistols, along with other gun manufacturing and drug paraphernalia. The homeowner was identified as Johnny Espinoza, a 49-year-old male. Espinoza was arrested for possession of an assault weapon, transport, import, and manufacturing of assault weapons, and knowledge of change or alteration of a firearm. Cory En, a 26-year-old male out of Modesto, was arrested for having a loaded firearm in public, possession or transportation of a machine gun, and knowledge of change or alteration of a firearm.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source & photo: Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office