The Sheriff’s Deputy living in Twentynine Palms arrested on suspicion of gang and weapons charges entered a not guilty plea on several felony charges, and is still being held in Sheriff’s custody.
Christopher Bingham, 45, a resident of Twentynine Palms and a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy, was arrested on April 4 for investigation into being a member of a motorcycle gang and possessing illegal and stolen weapons.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has been investigating Bingham since January, and he was arrested by the CHP along with other members of the Mongols gang in Riverside County on March 23.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department served a search warrant at Bingham’s home in the 7200 block of Adobe Road, where he was arrested and found with more than 160 firearms. Bingham was one of the owners of O’Three Tactical, a gun store in Twentynine Palms that has since closed.
On April 5, Bingham entered a plea of “not guilty” to 10 felony charges related to weapons possession, including grand theft of a firearm, possession of a destructive device, silencer, and machine gun, and receiving stolen property. He is facing additional enhancements on the charges for street gang terrorism, to which he has also pled “not guilty.”
In an interview with the San Bernardino Sun from jail, Bingham denied any affiliation with the Mongols, saying, “One-hundred percent I am not a Mongols gang member.”
Bingham is still being held at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on $240,000 bail. He appeared at a preliminary hearing at the San Bernardino County Justice Center on Tuesday, and is expected to be present next at a hearing on April 18.
