Apple Valley residents arrested with guns, drugs at Rancho Cucamonga jail facility

Two convicted felons and a wanted fugitive were arrested Thursday after they were found with guns, other illegal weapons and drugs on the grounds of a jail facility in Rancho Cucamonga, sheriff's officials said.

The arrests occurred around 1:30 p.m. at the West Valley Detention Center, 9500 Etiwanda Avenue, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies patrolling the grounds checked on a Dodge Ram pickup truck parked on the property with three people inside, Deputy Anelis Villalobos of the Sheriff's Centralized Classification Unit said in a written statement.

The driver, 36-year-old Christopher Lee Mclane, as well as one of his passengers, 35-year-old Monique Marie Gandara, are convicted felons who were prohibited from being on jail facility grounds.

The second passenger, Nicole Kristine Denning, 38, was wanted on a warrant for alleged auto theft and recklessly evading police, according to sheriff's officials and county booking records.

All three are Apple Valley residents.

"Investigators observed multiple hypodermic needles, knives and a (stun gun) flashlight in plain view," according to the statement. Deputies then obtained a warrant to search the truck.

A loaded pistol, a revolver, 38 grams of methamphetamine, nine grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, "numerous knives," brass knuckles and drug paraphernalia were all found within the vehicle, Anelis said.

The three suspects were booked on suspicion of a variety of crimes including being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possessing a controlled substance while armed, unlawful possession of a gun on jail grounds, being a felon on jail grounds and bringing drugs to a detention facility.

It was unclear why the group was at the jail.

Mclane was released from custody Friday pending legal proceedings after posting bail, records show.

Gandara was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail, and Denning was being held without bail. Both were housed at the same jail facility where they were arrested.

Anyone with information was asked to  call the West Valley Detention Center at (909) 708-8371 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (909) 387-8313. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to We-Tip at (800) 782-7463.