A 25-year-old convicted felon was arrested after a monthlong investigation into social media posts showing him posing with a firearm, including a video recorded in the presence of children, the Coalinga Police Department announced Wednesday.

Elijah Moraido, of Coalinga, was arrested Sept. 30 on suspicion of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and child endangerment, police said.

Investigators identified Moraido through social media images and videos showing him holding and posing with a firearm despite being prohibited from possessing guns or ammunition because of a felony conviction.

Police determined the firearm belonged to and was registered to Moraido’s wife, Alexis Marie Towner, of Coalinga.

Social Media Shows Suspect With Gun While Children Present

During the investigation, officers discovered a video posted by Moraido showing him sitting on a couch inside a residence with a firearm in his lap and a magazine inserted into the weapon. Towner and her children were present, according to police.

Based on the evidence, investigators obtained search and arrest warrants.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30, officers conducted a felony traffic stop near South Monterey and West Polk streets in Coalinga, taking Moraido into custody.

Towner was detained and taken to the couple’s residence in the 600 block of Lucille Avenue, where officers executed a search warrant.

During the search, officers discovered a loaded black Taurus GX2 9 mm semiautomatic pistol inside an unlocked safe in the couple’s bedroom, near a child’s bed, police said.

Moraido was booked into the Fresno County Jail.

Towner was released at the scene, but police forwarded recommended charges of criminal storage of a firearm, allowing a prohibited person access to a firearm, and child endangerment to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office for review.

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