The Region : 16 Arrested on Visits to Honor Ranch

A surprise search of visitors to the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Ranch in Castaic resulted in 16 arrests, authorities said. Twelve women and four men were booked on various charges, including possession of loaded weapons, narcotics and stolen property, Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Fitzsimmons said. Such searches are conducted occasionally to discourage the smuggling of contraband into the jail, which houses maximum- and minimum-security prisoners, he said. Deputies confiscated three loaded handguns, 25 grams of marijuana, two grams of cocaine and a stolen car.