A former tow truck operator charged with a multitude of felonies
in Santa Clara County could now face gun possession charges
here.
A former tow truck operator charged with a multitude of felonies in Santa Clara County could now face gun possession charges here.
The Hollister Police Department helped the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office search Vincent Cardinalli Sr.’s business on Dec. 20 in the 700 block of San Felipe Road, said officer Rosie Betanio, spokeswoman for the department.
Cardinalli Sr.; his son, Paul Stephen Greer; and three others face a total of 169 felony charges in Santa Clara County stemming from hundreds of lawsuits filed in hopes of collecting towing and storage fees.
In the latest instance of potential trouble for the family, officers recovered seven firearms – rifles and shotguns – which were in plain view on the northwest wall of an office in the back of the business, Hollister police Capt. Richard Vasquez said Thursday morning.
Authorities believe Cardinalli Sr. had access to the weapons, Betanio said.
Earlier this month, it was revealed in a San Martin court that Cardinalli Sr. was convicted of two felony arson counts in 1979. It is illegal for a violent offender to possess firearms, according to the California Penal Code. Arson qualifies as a violent crime.
The San Benito County District Attorney’s Office has not filed charges against Cardinalli Sr., 64, who is being held in a Santa Clara County jail without bail while his case is pending there.
The police department sent the case to prosecutors for review on Dec. 28, Betanio said.
Deputy District Attorney Patrick Palacios said he could not comment on case details.
“I’m reviewing charges on Mr. Cardinalli,” Palacios said Wednesday afternoon.
Palacios said he expects a decision within a week on whether to charge Cardinalli.
Cardinalli Sr.’s attorney, Mike Pekin, declined to comment late Wednesday afternoon.
“I don’t talk about that case,” Pekin said.
If convicted of one felony, Cardinalli Sr. would face 25 years to life in prison because of California’s Three Strikes law.
