Convicted felon facing charges after police find 50 firearms, 15,000 rounds of ammo

WALTHAM, Minn. (FOX 9) - A convicted felon in southern Minnesota is facing felony charges after authorities uncovered a huge cache of guns and ammo at his home.

Stockpile of weapons found

What we know:

Matthew Pyburn, 39, of Waltham, Minn., is facing 20 separate counts of being a violent felon in possession of a firearm or ammo.

Pyburn made his first appearance in the case on Tuesday and is set to return next week.

Dig deeper:

The Mower County Sheriff's Office searched Pyburn's home and truck after receiving a tip that Pyburn had firearms despite being prohibited from possessing weapons due to a past violent offense.

During the searches, authorities say they found nearly 50 firearms and several BB guns. The firearms included pistols, shotguns, rifles, and at least one muzzleloader.

Most of the weapons were found in safes in the home's master bedroom or basement.

The full list of firearms includes:

1. 12 Gauge Benelli in Green Gun Case
2. Unknown Caliber Silver Colt Revolver
3. .45 Caliber Black Ruger Revolver
4. .22 Caliber Black Foldable Kel-Tec G17
5. 17 HMR Caliber Black Savage 817
6. .22 Caliber Brown Loaded (6 bullets) Marlen Rifle w/Black Scope
7. 12 Gauge Tan Winchester SXP
8. 12 Gauge Tan Maverick w/shotgun shell holder and camo case
9. 12 Gauge Black Remington 870 w/3 chokes, extra barrel and camo case
10. 9MM Caliber Red/White/Blue American Flag Glock
11. Black Aftermarket AR Rifle (no serial number)
12. .223 Caliber Black Ruger Rifle w/Tripod
13. Black Hatsan Thermo Defend Shotgun
14. .22 Caliber Tan Traker Rifle
15. .22 Caliber Brown WASR
16. Brown Mauser Bolt Action Rifle
17. Brown Marshal Arms Shotgun
18. .45 Caliber Brown Braztech
19. .22 Caliber Brown Glenfield
20. 12 Gauge Brown Western Field Shotgun
21. .22 Caliber Winchester Rifle
22. 12 Gauge Brown Mosberg w/sling Shotgun
23. 12 Gauge Brown Master Mag Shotgun
24. 12 Gauge Black Hatsan Comp.
25. 12 Gauge Brown Mosberg
26. .22 Caliber Black Archangel Fully Automatic Rifle (authorities did not say how this weapon was determined to be fully automatic)
27. 12 Gauge Brown Remington 870
28. 12 Gauge Black/Camo Mossberg
29. 20 Gauge Brown Remington 870
30. 20 Gauge Black H&R 1871
31. 12 Gauge Brown Yimeng Shotgun
32. .50 Caliber Brown Brolin Arms Muzzle Loader
33. .22 LR Caliber Black Ruger Mark IV
34. .380 Caliber Black Sig Sauer
35. A commemorative Donald Trump .45 Caliber Silver TISAS Pistol
36. .45 Caliber Silver Rock Island Pistol
37. .45 Caliber Black KBI Pistol
38. .45 Caliber Silver 1911 Metro Corp
39. .40 Caliber S&W
40. .38 Caliber Black Rock Island 206 Revolver
41. 9MM Caliber Black Taurus Pistol
42. .22 Caliber Black Sig Sauer 1911
43. 9 MM Silver Sig Sauer SP202
44. .380 Caliber Black Ruger (Located in Semi)
45. 9MM Caliber Black Taurus PT24/7 PRO C
46. 9MM Caliber Black Ruger Pistol
47. 9MM Black S&W Pistol

Police say they also found a cache of ammunition totaling more than 15,000 rounds, including 4,471 rounds of 9mm ammo, 2,480 rounds of 45mm ammo, 2,059 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, 1,951 rounds of 12 gauge ammo, 1,926 rounds of .223 caliber ammo, and hundreds of rounds of various other types of ammo. Authorities also found 37 magazines of different calibers.

What they're saying:

While deputies were executing the search warrant at the property, they say Pyburn arrived home and was placed under arrest. Pyburn later declined to speak with investigators.

Felony conviction

The backstory:

Authorities say Pyburn was not allowed to possess a firearm due to a prior conviction for criminal sexual conduct.  Pyburn was charged in 2006 with ten counts of criminal sexual conduct by Austin police.

He ultimately pleaded guilty to a single count of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree with a victim between the ages of 13-15 – a felony. Court records show the remaining counts were dismissed as part of the plea.

The Source: This story uses information from a criminal complaint filed in Mower County.