A search warrant was served by the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office and the Yolo County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Bureau on Calaveras Street in Crescent City, Friday, December 12th.
Information from an ongoing multi-agency investigation, related to the fireworks explosion on July 1st, 2025, in Esparto, California that killed 7 people led to the warrant.
During the warrant service in Del Norte County, Ronald Botelho III was arrested on multiple charges including possession of destructive devices; 2 counts of, reckless possession of explosives near or in a residential area; possession of materials with intent to make any destructive device, child endangerment; all of which are felonies.
Botelho was also arrested for the following misdemeanor charges, including, making, transporting, or possessing explosives, keeping a firearm where a child can gain access, illegal possession on an assault rifle, possession of more than 100 pounds of illegal fireworks.
Botelho’s bail was set at $500,000.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Unit assisted with the identification, transportation and destruction of some of the devices that were collected during this search warrant.
