By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer
A former Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy last month pleaded no contest to felony illegal possession of an assault weapon and misdemeanor impersonating a peace officer according to the district attorney’s office.
Hector Chavez on Dec. 9 was sentenced to 180 days, which he will serve half of and then be put on probation.
Chavez was suspended from the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office and his law enforcement powers revoked in April after he entered an Elk Grove Home Depot and took merchandise without paying, then fled on foot after being confronted by a loss prevention employee.
Elk Grove police officers later detained Chavez with the merchandise.
Over the next several months, he used an old sheriff’s ID card to purchase multiple firearms only law enforcement officers are allowed to possess.
Chavez was arrested Aug. 25 after deputies executed a search warrant at his residence and found multiple firearms that had been converted to assault weapons.