MCSO POP Team Makes Felony Arrest in O’Neals

O’NEALS — When the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received information late last week regarding a prohibited person reportedly being in possession of a firearm, the Madera County Sheriff’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) team initiated an investigation.

After MCSO Deputy Mike Chambers discovered the subject, 45-year-old Pasquale Desantis, is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms, the POP team, with assistance from additional MCSO detectives and deputies and the Madera Narcotics Enforcement team, served a search warrant at two properties in O’Neals which Desantis’ reportedly had access to.

The subject was subsequently located and found to be in possession of multiple rounds of ammunition, a rifle, high-capacity magazines, illegal weapons parts, methamphetamine and multiple items of paraphernalia related to drug sales, including elements of a so-called “honey oil” lab.

Desantis was arrested and booked in the Madera County Department of Corrections on multiple felony charges including convicted felon in possession of firearms, convicted felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a high capacity magazine, being in possession of a firearm and controlled substances, possession of a controlled substance for sale, manufacturing by chemical process a controlled substance, and an unrelated felony charge of corporal injury on spouse/cohabitant.

Deputy Chambers was a successful local business owner before he sold out to pursue his dream of working in law enforcement. He served on Chowchilla Police Department for three years and was named CPD’s “Officer of the Year” in 2015.

In the time Chambers has worked for MCSO, Sheriff Jay Varney says he “has proven himself to be one of our most proactive deputies in our department. No matter the task, Deputy Chambers is there for us doing the best job possible.”

In August of 2018, Chambers was recognized as “Deputy of the Year” by the Elks Lodge.