December 12, 2024 – Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on Sunday, December 1st, 2024, at about 10:30 a.m. in the morning, deputies responded to the area of Old Melones Dam Road near Shell Road for a report of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) violation, where it was reported 43-year-old James Owsley was at the property sleeping in a shed, in violation of a no contact restraining order. The TRO was unserved and had originated from a domestic violence incident reported earlier in the week, where Owsley had left the scene prior to deputies’ arrival and was not located.  

When deputies arrived on scene, they gave verbal commands for Owsley to exit the property and safely took him into custody. Deputies saw Methamphetamine in plain view inside the shed Owsley had exited from and contacted Investigations Division Detectives who authored a search warrant for the shed and Owsley’s vehicle. 

While searching the property and vehicle deputies found approximately 190 grams of controlled substances believed to be methamphetamine and approximately 45 grams of narcotics believed to be fentanyl, in various bags. Deputies also found items consistent with drug sales including, over $600 cash, packaging materials, digital scales, and drug use paraphernalia. Additionally, deputies found multiple rounds of ammunition, which Owsley is prohibited from possessing.

Owsley was arrested and transported to the Dambacher Detention Center (DDC) where he was booked on the charges of 11352(A)H&S – Transporting a narcotic controlled substance for sale, 11351 H&S – Possession of a narcotic controlled substance for sale, 11379(A) H&S – transporting a controlled substance, 11378 H&S – possession of a controlled substance for sale, 30305(A)(1) PC -Possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and 11364(A) H&S – Possession of unlawful drug use paraphernalia. 

After the arrest, Tuolumne Narcotics Team (TNT) Agents obtained a search warrant for a storage unit belonging to Owsley. While serving the search warrant TNT Agents found a loaded handgun with a large capacity magazine. The firearm did not have a serial number, commonly known as a “Ghost gun.” Additional charges of 29800(A)(1) PC – Prohibited person in possession of a firearm, 32310 PC – Possession of a large capacity magazine, and 29180PC – Possession of a firearm without a serial number were recommended to the District Attorney for prosecution. 

The attached body cam video shows clips from the arrest and subsequent warrant services.

View video here.

Source: Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office