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Cheryl Arena's GoFundMe for Kyle Arena, of Totowa, had raised more than $14,000 as of Sunday night, Sept. 29. Arena explains on the campaign that her 35-year-old son was "pinched" after a disgruntled Facebook user filed a complaint against him, prompting authorities to search the house he lives in with his parents, as previously reported by Daily Voice.
Cheryl Arena called it "an extreme violation of his rights as an American," and implored the general public to help fight the case.
"If it can happen to him it can happen to you," she writes. "The legal team that has been retained is top notch but with that comes a price. Every penny donated will go towards his legal expenses. Thank you all for your support."
Arena's arrest came after authorities were tipped off on Tuesday, Sept. 24 to "questionable" Facebook activity, as previously reported by Daily Voice, citing Totowa police. Screenshots showed Arena pointing a firearm out of a vehicle window while driving and other illegal items including silencers, Totowa Police Chief Carmen Veneziano said.
A judge ultimately granted authorities a temporary extreme risk protection order (TERPO), which uncovered large cache of illegal firearms hidden in a crawl space, 129 fully-loaded illegal high-capacity magazines, thousands of rounds of ammunition, several illegal sharp-edged weapons, ballistic body armor, a helmet, and parts to build and alter firearms, Veneziano said.
Four explosive items found in the home were seized by the Passaic County Sheriff's ERT, the chief said.
Meanwhile, Felix Arena, Kyle's dad, age 66, was arrested for disorderly conduct, terroristic threats, and resisting arrest. Kyle Arena was charged with multiple firearms and weapons violations.
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