SANTA NELLA — Three men were arrested late Monday after a vandalism call led deputies to a vehicle carrying a non-serialized firearm and a high‑capacity magazine, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Valdes responded to the Santa Nella Trailer Park at about 11:10 p.m. Jan. 26 for a report of vandalism. When he arrived, witnesses told him the suspects had left in a white pickup headed toward Comet Road. Valdes located a truck matching the description and conducted a traffic stop.

The three occupants — Luis Gerardo Amaya, 29; John Junior Vieira, 31; and Jose Torres, 22 — were detained. Deputies said Torres was found carrying a loaded 15‑round magazine. A records check showed Amaya had a felony warrant for a probation violation, while Vieira had a misdemeanor probation‑violation warrant and nine failures to appear.

During an inventory search of the pickup, deputies located a .40‑caliber non-serialized handgun, commonly known as a ghost gun, in the area where Torres had been sitting.

All three men were arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail. Torres faces charges including possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of a high‑capacity magazine, possession of an undetectable firearm, participation in a criminal street gang and vandalism. Amaya was booked on his felony warrant and vandalism, and Vieira was booked on his misdemeanor warrant, multiple failures to appear and vandalism.

The investigation is ongoing.