School Employee Pleads Not Guilty in Arms Case

A school groundskeeper pleaded not guilty Monday to more than two dozen weapons violations in connection with a cache of guns found at his San Clemente home.

Officers entered Jerry Peacock’s home to determine whether he had stolen property from the Capistrano Unified School District. But an investigation into the 80 weapons that officials subsequently found in his home led prosecutors to file 27 weapons-related charges against him.

Peacock was charged with eight counts of possessing machine guns, 11 counts of possessing assault weapons and eight counts of possessing short-barreled shotguns or rifles. His possession of the weapons was deemed illegal because some of the weapons were not properly registered to him or were illegally modified, officials said.

He was also been charged with one count of receiving stolen school property. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Peacock’s attorney, Gary Pohlson, contends that his client is a weapons collector who was targeted by the school district after officials lost a $215,000 sexual harassment suit that Peacock and two co-workers filed in 1997.

School district officials tipped off deputies last week, alleging that Peacock had stolen two ladders, work boots and other gardening items from the district, officials said.

School officials also told deputies about Peacock’s gun collection, said district Supt. James Fleming.

Peacock was arrested last Wednesday when deputies raided his home and found eight machine guns, dozens of military-style rifles, several World War II-vintage carbines and 50,000 rounds of ammunition.