LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police officers this week arrested a Kelseyville man on weapons charges and domestic battery, and also took his girlfriend into custody for having in her vehicle a concealed weapon which later was determined to have been stolen.

Marco Antonio Meza, 24, and Marcella Ann Milenewicz, 23, of Lakeport were arrested Thursday afternoon, according to a report from Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson.

Ferguson said that at approximately 2:44 p.m. Thursday Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to
the area of Second and N. Forbes streets to contact Milenewicz.

Milenewicz told officers that Meza, her boyfriend, had taken her car keys and left the area. Upon arrival, officers located Milenewicz sitting on the sidewalk and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the street, Ferguson said.

While speaking to Milenewicz, an officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle and, looking through the window, noticed a silver-colored .25-caliber handgun with white grips, lying on its side, in plain view, according to Ferguson.

Ferguson said the officer inquired about the handgun and learned it belonged to Milenewicz, and that she and Meza had been out at Cow Mountain target shooting. Officers conducted a check on the loaded firearm and learned it was registered to Milenewicz.

Officers obtained consent to search the vehicle and located a loaded .22-caliber pistol concealed
inside a yellow zippered bag in the center console, Ferguson said. When asked about the pistol, Milenewicz denied ownership but claimed the yellow zippered bag belonged to her.

Located on the floorboard of the vehicle was a box of .22-caliber hollow point ammunition, containing 100 rounds, which were determined to belong to Meza, Ferguson said.

Based on the location of the pistol, combined with the fact it was concealed in the vehicle, Ferguson said officers placed Milenewicz under arrest for possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle and transported her to the police station for questioning.

While at the station, officers at the scene of the vehicle located Meza as he returned to the area. Ferguson said Meza was placed under arrest for being a driver in possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and domestic battery.

Both Meza and Milenewicz were transported to the Hill Road Jail where Meza’s bail was set at
$15,000. Milenewicz was later released on a citation, Ferguson said.

Throughout the course of their investigation, Ferguson said officers learned that the .22-caliber pistol had been reported stolen in a recent burglary in the Kelseyville area.

Additional charges of possession of stolen property are being sought against Milenewicz and Meza, Ferguson said.

Jail records indicated that Meza later posted the required percentage of his $15,000 bail and was released. He's tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Monday.