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2 arrested with assault rifles plead not guilty to weapons charges

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Two people accused of driving a vanload of AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition through Newport Beach pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony weapons charges.

Andrew John Cardiel Jr., 42, and Heather Magun Gurule, 30, are still in Orange County Jail with bail set at $500,000 each after police pulled over their Dodge Caravan for expired registration Nov. 14. Officers found seven fully automatic AK-47 rifles, six 30-round high-capacity magazines, two 10-round magazines and more than 350 rounds of 7.62-caliber ammunition, police said.

A bail review hearing is set for next week, according to court records.

The two face charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of an assault weapon, transporting a machine gun, possession of a short-barreled rifle and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

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In addition, Cardiel faces three misdemeanor counts of possession of an opium pipe, false evidence of vehicle registration and driving with a suspended license.

Cardiel, a Banning resident, pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon in 1999, possession of a controlled substance in 2006 and receiving stolen property in 2008.

Gurule, of Yucaipa, pleaded guilty to burglary in 2009.

Authorities have not specified where the two were headed last week, other than that they were driving south on Orange County freeways when they stopped for gas.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck

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