Central Oregon law enforcement seized 69 firearms, many of them “ghost guns” bearing no serial numbers, from a Deschutes River Woods home on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The suspected gun manufacturer wasn’t at the house and isn’t believed to be in the area.
At approximately 6 pm on Wednesday, officers with Central Oregon Drug Enforcement and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant on a home in the 60000 block of Winnebago Lane, after CODE detectives earlier this month identified Eric Keith Testerman, 66, of Bend, as an alleged manufacturer and seller of ghost guns.
Ghost guns, which don’t have serial numbers, typically are built using 3D printers and commercially available kits. However, the state of Oregon requires that all guns, including privately made firearms, have a serial number and are traceable. As of Sept. 1, 2024, per the Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon law prohibits manufacturing, selling, possessing or transferring unserialized firearms manufactured after Oct. 22, 1968. First-time offenders can face a fine up to $1,000, while repeat offenders might face higher fines and possible jail or prison time.
“This case highlights the importance of the CODE team in keeping our community safe through proactive and relentless investigation,” said CODE Team Deputy District Attorney Andrew Doyle.
A Deschutes County grand jury will determine, based on the CODE investigation, whether to indict Testerman on several offenses, including manufacture, importation, sale or transfer of undetectable firearms; unlawful possession of machine guns, certain short-barreled firearms and firearms silencers.
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