A 43-year-old Jurupa Valley man caught with high-capacity rifles that his 12-year-old son allegedly threatened to use on his school mates pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor charges and was immediately sentenced to 12 months probation.
Rolando Sida Sr. admitted three counts of possession of assault weapons after his case was called for a preliminary hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday.
Sida’s plea was directly to Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk, without input from the District Attorney’s Office, whose prosecutors had originally filed felony allegations against the defendant.
Sida was arrested April 4, 2024, following a sheriff’s department investigation stemming from alleged acts by his son, whose name was not disclosed, on the campus of Jurupa Middle School at 8700 Galena St.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Avila, administrators notified the campus resource deputy that the boy had made “threats … toward his classmates.”
No one on the campus was physically harmed.
“A thorough investigation of these criminal threats was immediately initiated,” Avila said, adding patrol deputies went to the youth’s family home in the 5000 block of Baldwin Avenue and questioned Sida.
“As a result of the investigation, three unsecured assault rifles, one handgun and several hundred rounds of ammunition were located within the residence and seized,” the sergeant said.
Sida was taken into custody without incident, as was his son, who was booked into Riverside Juvenile Hall.
Information regarding the outcome of the case involving the boy was unavailable due to his underage status.
Sida had no documented prior felony or misdemeanor convictions in Riverside County.