--- title: PC 29800 Arrests and Bail in Nevada County — Felon with a Firearm description: California PC 29800 (felon in possession of a firearm) is a felony with $50,000 bail in Nevada County. Here’s how the law works, how bail works, and what to do after an arrest. image: https://www.nevadacitybail.com/hubfs/Image%201-26-26%20at%208.38%20AM%20(1).png --- [Skip to content](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/navigating-californias-pc-29800-felon-in-possession-of-a-firearm#main-content) [![BAIL HOUSE 2024 dark background (1)](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BAIL%20HOUSE%202024%20dark%20background%20(1).png?width=1500&height=250&name=BAIL%20HOUSE%202024%20dark%20background%20(1).png) ![BAIL HOUSE 2024 (2)-1](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BAIL%20HOUSE%202024%20(2)-1.png?width=777&height=130&name=BAIL%20HOUSE%202024%20(2)-1.png)](https://www.nevadacitybail.com) [Call: (530) 265-0535](tel:15302650535) - Locations - [Alta Sierra](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/alta-sierra) - [Cedar Ridge](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/grass-valley#cedar-ridge) - [Grass Valley](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/grass-valley) - [Lake of the Pines](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/lake-of-the-pines) - [Lake Wildwood](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/penn-valley#lake-wildwood) - [Nevada City](https://www.nevadacitybail.com) - [Nevada County](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/nevada-county) - [North San Juan](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/nevada-county#north-san-juan) - [Penn Valley](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/penn-valley) - [Rough and Ready](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/rough-and-ready) - [Sierra County](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/sierra-county) - [Truckee](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/truckee) - [Common Charges](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/charges) - Bail FAQ - [How Does a Bail Bond Work?](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/how-does-bail-work-in-california) - [Tips to Avoid Bail Bond Scams](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/8-tips-to-avoid-bail-bond-scams) - [Family Guide to Bail](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/how-to-help-a-loved-one-arrested-in-california) - [What is Bail Forfeiture?](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/what-is-bail-forfeiture) - [Bail Bonds & ICE](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/bail-bonds-and-ice-nevada-county-guide) - [Blog](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/contact) ###### 7 min read # Felon in Possession of a Firearm & Other Gun Arrests By: [The Bail House](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/author/the-bail-house) on Jan 26, 2026, 9:04:47 AM [Felony](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/tag/felony) [Nevada County](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/tag/nevada-county) [Gun](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/tag/gun) [Firearm](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/tag/firearm) ![Featured Image](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/hubfs/Image%201-26-26%20at%208.38%20AM%20(1).png) When someone you love is arrested on a felon-in-possession allegation, the clock starts fast. Firearms charges draw an immediate, aggressive response from law enforcement, bail runs higher than families usually expect, and release conditions are strict. In Nevada County, the 2026 bail schedule puts California Penal Code 29800 — Firearms, Possession by Felon or Addict — at a **presumptive bail of $50,000.** PC 29800 is one of the firearms charges we handle most often, and in our experience it’s also one of the most misunderstood. The law is broader than “someone with a prior conviction holding a gun.” It reaches into vehicles, shared homes, closets, and glove boxes — anywhere a prohibited person has access to a firearm. This post walks through what the law actually covers, why these cases happen in our area, what bail looks like under the Nevada County schedule, and how we help families get a loved one home. We’re at **(530) 265-0535**, 24 hours a day, if you need help right now. > **Important:** This is general information, not legal advice. A criminal defense attorney should review the details of any specific case. ### What PC 29800 Actually Covers California Penal Code 29800 makes it a felony for anyone who is prohibited from possessing firearms to **own, purchase, receive, or have in their possession, custody, or control** a firearm. The prohibited categories include: - Anyone convicted of a felony (state or federal) - Anyone addicted to the use of any narcotic drug - Anyone with specific misdemeanor convictions (certain domestic violence, assault, and weapons offenses) - Anyone subject to a qualifying restraining order The wording that trips most people up is **“possession, custody, or control.”** Possession doesn’t mean the gun was in the person’s hand or on their body. It means the person knew the firearm was present *and* had the ability to control access to it. #### Actual Possession vs. Constructive Possession **Actual possession** is what most people picture — a firearm in a waistband, pocket, or bag the person was carrying. **Constructive possession (custody or control)** is far more common in PC 29800 cases. It covers firearms found: - In a car’s center console, glove box, or under a seat - In a bedroom drawer in a shared home - In a closet or storage area - In luggage near where the defendant was staying - In a locked container the defendant had keys to This is why “the gun wasn’t mine” or “I wasn’t holding it” is often not a complete defense. The real question becomes: **did the defendant know it was there, and could they control access to it?** Prosecutors build cases on access, keys, statements, text messages, and witness accounts. ### Why PC 29800 Arrests Happen in Our Area PC 29800 arrests in Nevada County typically come from a handful of specific situations: **Traffic stops on I-80 through Truckee.** The interstate is a major enforcement corridor, and firearms are routinely discovered during vehicle searches that began as traffic stops. A loaded firearm in a vehicle driven by a prohibited person is a near-automatic PC 29800 charge, often paired with PC 25850 (carrying a loaded firearm in public). **Probation or parole searches.** Prohibited persons on supervision are subject to warrantless search conditions. A firearm found during a routine compliance check becomes an immediate PC 29800 arrest. **Response calls at homes.** Deputies responding to a disturbance, welfare check, or domestic incident at a residence where a prohibited person lives frequently discover firearms during the response. Even if the firearm belongs to someone else in the household, prosecutors can build a constructive-possession case. **Service of a search warrant.** Firearms discovered during the execution of a warrant tied to another investigation routinely produce PC 29800 charges. **Reports of brandishing or threats.** When a prohibited person is accused of displaying a firearm — even without discharging or pointing it at anyone — PC 29800 can be charged alongside PC 417 (brandishing). ### Nevada County Bail for PC 29800 and Related Firearms Charges Under the 2026 Nevada County bail schedule, bail for firearms related charges are anywhere from $5,000 - $75,000 base, plus they may reveive additional enhancements. | Charge | 2026 Nevada County Bail | | --- | --- | | **PC 29800** — Firearms, possession by felon or addict | **$50,000** | | PC 26100(c) — Discharge of firearm from motor vehicle at another | $25,000 | | PC 32625(b) — Sale, conversion to, or manufacture of a machine gun | $50,000 | | PC 245(a)(3) — Assault with a machine gun | $75,000 | | PC 626.9 — Guns on school grounds | $20,000 | | PC 31360 — Possession of body armor by felon | $20,000 | | PC 417(a)(2) misdemeanor — Brandishing a firearm | $5,000 | | PC 626.9(b) misdemeanor — Firearms in school zone sub-sections | $7,500 | **Enhancements can push PC 29800 bail dramatically higher:** - **One prior strike** (serious or violent felony conviction): **+$25,000** - **Two or more prior strikes:** **+$150,000** - **Firearm used in commission of another felony (PC 12022):** +$100,000 - **Personal use of firearm during a serious offense (PC 12022.53(b)):** +$100,000 - **Discharge of firearm during offense (PC 12022.53(c)):** +$200,000 - **Discharge causing great bodily injury or death (PC 12022.53(d)):** +$500,000 A PC 29800 arrest tied to another serious felony can easily push total bail into six figures. Bail is [set by the schedule](https://www.nevada.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/fees-bail-schedules) at booking unless a judge modifies it at arraignment. ### What to Expect After Release PC 29800 release conditions are typically strict: - **No possession of any firearm or ammunition** — including locked containers in a shared home - **No contact with codefendants** or anyone else charged in the same incident - **Search condition** — many judges impose a search condition that allows law enforcement to search the defendant and their residence without a warrant - **Travel restrictions** — often a prohibition on leaving Nevada County without court approval - **Court appearances at Nevada County Superior Court in Nevada City** — mandatory, regardless of where the defendant lives Missing a court date results in a bench warrant, potential bail forfeiture, and an additional failure-to-appear charge. For firearms cases specifically, violating the no-possession condition — even by having a firearm in a shared home — can trigger bail revocation and a new arrest. #### How Bail Bonds Work for a PC 29800 Arrest The process follows the standard California flow, which you can read about in our [How Bail Works guide](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/how-does-bail-work-in-california). For out-of-area families dealing with an I-80 PC 29800 arrest of a relative, we handle the entire process remotely. #### FAQ **How much is bail for PC 29800 in Nevada County?** The 2026 Nevada County bail schedule puts PC 29800 at **$50,000**. The 10% bail bond premium is **$5,000**. Enhancements for prior strikes, firearm use in another offense, or discharge can raise the total significantly. **Can someone be arrested for PC 29800 if the gun wasn’t theirs?** Yes. Many PC 29800 cases involve “custody or control” — the firearm belonged to someone else, but the prohibited person had access to it and knew it was there. Prosecutors can build a case on access, keys, statements, and circumstantial evidence of knowledge. **What makes someone “prohibited” from possessing a firearm?** Any prior felony conviction (state or federal), narcotic addiction, certain misdemeanor convictions (domestic violence, assault, specific weapons offenses), and being subject to qualifying restraining orders. The prohibited list is longer than most people realize — specific misdemeanor DV convictions trigger lifetime federal firearms prohibition under 18 USC § 922(g)(9). **Can a prohibited person live in a home with firearms owned by someone else?** Only if the firearms are stored in a way that completely removes the prohibited person’s access — typically a locked gun safe to which only the lawful owner has the key or combination. Even then, PC 29800 constructive-possession cases can be filed if prosecutors believe the arrangement is a sham. Many Nevada County residents in this situation remove firearms from the shared home entirely. **What should we do in the first 24–48 hours after a PC 29800 arrest?** Confirm booking details at Wayne Brown Correctional Facility. Don’t discuss the facts of the case on recorded jail calls. Contact a criminal defense attorney who handles firearms cases. Call a bail agent to begin processing the bond. If the home will be searched or already has been, speak to the defense attorney before anyone in the home consents to additional searches. **Can out-of-area visitors get a bail bond handled by phone?** Yes. We routinely handle bonds for people arrested while passing through on I-80 whose families are in the Bay Area, Reno, or elsewhere. The entire process happens remotely. **Can PC 29800 ever be reduced to a misdemeanor?** PC 29800 is a straight felony, not a wobbler. However, a strong case on the underlying search legality or on the constructive-possession element can sometimes result in dismissal, reduction to a lesser charge, or a plea to a different statute. These are case-specific decisions for a defense attorney. **Who should I call after a firearms arrest in Nevada County or Truckee?** Call **Bail House Bail Bonds at (530) 265-0535** anytime, day or night. ### How We Help We’ve been helping families in Nevada County for over 50 years. The person who answers the phone at 2 a.m. lives in this area, knows the local courts and the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility, and has handled firearms cases just like the one you’re dealing with. When you call us about a PC 29800 arrest: - **A real person, every time.** 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. - **Clear cost upfront.** $50,000 schedule bail runs $5,000 in premium. If enhancements raise the total, we’ll tell you before any paperwork is signed. - **Remote handling.** Especially useful for out-of-area families dealing with an I-80 arrest. - **No judgment.** Firearms cases are personal and often misunderstood. We’ve helped families through every variation of this call. - **Court date reminders and attorney referrals** to defense attorneys who handle firearms cases. **Call (530) 265-0535** if you need help right now. We’ll take it from there. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## [Reckless Driving Arrests and Bail Bonds in California](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/reckless-driving-bail-bonds-california) When someone you love is arrested for reckless driving, the situation can escalate fast — from what... ## [Drug Charge Arrests and Bail Bonds in Nevada County](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/how-to-get-a-bail-bond-for-drug-related-offenses) When someone you love is arrested for a drug offense, the shock often outlasts the arrest itself.... ## [Felony DUI in California: How VC 23550.5 Is Different](https://www.nevadacitybail.com/blog/navigating-felony-dui-charges-and-bail-in-nevada-county) A misdemeanor DUI is a hard experience. A felony DUI is a different category of problem — different... 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