Yreka, CA – Dustin Brown, a 41-year-old Montague resident charged with felonies involving a minor, had his bond revoked by Judge Bicego after investigators discovered he concealed 10 unregistered firearms and 100,000 rounds of ammunition in violation of court orders. Siskiyou County District Attorney J. Kirk Andrus confirmed the revocation in a text exchange with Siskiyou News, stating, “Sorry, Jay, I missed this text. He violated the terms of his release by not turning in all of his firearms. Our investigators discovered firearms he had kept in another location and so the judge revoked his bond.” Martin, who received a photo of the raid from a passerby, thanked Andrus for the update, to which Andrus replied, “Judge Bicego made the decision to revoke his bond.”
Andrus and the Grand Jury: A Sealed Process Unveiled
Deputy District Attorney Melissa Whetstine played a pivotal role in escalating Brown’s case by convening a grand jury in January 2025. Unlike a preliminary hearing, the grand jury process occurs behind closed doors, allowing prosecutors to present evidence—here, led by Whetstine—to a panel of citizens who determine if charges are warranted. On January 8, the grand jury issued a sealed indictment, a move that kept details under wraps until Brown’s arraignment. Andrus’s office pursued this route to secure felony charges, reflecting a strategic effort to address the case’s gravity and protect the community, particularly given the child victim involved.
Weapons and Parole Violation: A Calculated Breach
Court records detail Brown’s deliberate non-compliance. After his September 24, 2024, arrest, he was ordered to surrender all firearms. He turned over only registered firearms traceable via a database to a licensed dealer, while “purposefully retain[ing] the guns that could not be ‘discovered by police,’” showing what prosecutors described as a “cunningness to not comply with the Court orders.” On February 27, 2025, a search warrant executed at his parents’ home in Yreka uncovered 10 unregistered firearms in a trap-door location, including three rifles—two bolt-action and one lever-action—marked with Brown’s name or initials. His father confirmed some belonged to Brown. The search also found ammunition, though the exact amount there was unspecified.
The next day, February 28, a probation compliance check revealed ammunition in Brown’s vehicle and long rifle ammunition in a building adjacent to his Montague home. Court documents state Brown hid 100,000 rounds of ammunition total, a figure reflecting the full scope of his violations across locations. This defiance led to his bond revocation on March 5, 2025.
Charges: Felonies Involving a Minor
On January 8, 2025, a Siskiyou County Grand Jury indicted Brown on two felony counts:
- Meeting a Minor for Lewd Purposes (Penal Code Section 288.4(b)): Between May 1 and September 30, 2024, Brown allegedly arranged and attended a meeting with a minor, C.M.C. (born October 27, 2006), for lewd purposes.
- Sexual Battery by Restraint (Penal Code Section 243.4(a)): He is accused of unlawfully touching C.M.C.’s intimate parts while the minor was restrained, for sexual gratification. Conviction could result in significant prison time and mandatory sex offender registration.
Backstory: Threats and a Marksman’s Stockpile
Brown posted $100,000 bail on September 25, 2024, with an order to surrender all firearms within 24 hours. After his indictment, he was arrested again on February 28, 2025, and released on $25,000 bail. However, on February 17, 2025, Detective Sergeant Kelly Towers learned from a witness (Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Report 24-1303, supplement 14) that Brown, post-restraining order, threatened:
- “He would shoot anyone who tried to send him to prison.”
- “They would never know what happened.”
- “He would never go to prison, he would die before going to prison.” The witness noted Brown’s skill as a “rifle distance marksman,” a detail that, paired with his 100,000 rounds and rifles, alarmed authorities.
On February 28, the District Attorney’s Office filed a motion arguing that “no conditions can ensure the safety” of witnesses or the community, citing his sophisticated evasion. Judge Bicego revoked his bond on March 5.
Court Proceedings and Community Reaction
On February 26, 2025, before Judge John Lawrence, Brown, represented by Jacob Levin, pleaded not guilty to the indictment and waived a speedy trial. The preliminary hearing for case 24CF11560 was set for April 9, 2025, with case 25CF00253 to trail. A passerby sent Martin a photo of the February 27 raid, reflecting public interest in a case many only recently learned involved a grand jury and bond revocation. The child victims and Brown’s defiance have heightened local concern.
What’s Next?
Brown remains in custody awaiting his April 9 hearing. The prosecution insists remand is essential to protect “our children that were sexually assaulted.” Presumed innocent until proven guilty, Brown’s hidden arsenal and threats have thrust this case into sharp focus, leaving Siskiyou County residents watching closely as it unfolds.
