Arrested for Nunchaku: How serious is this?

[HBsurvivalist]

Hi Gentlemen/Ladies,

I was recently arrested for the possession of "nunchaku" or nunchucks and solely for that. I was relaxing in my car under a tree in a dead-end neighborhood (a lot of people walk by, bike, etc.) when some Sheriff officers rolling by decided to stop and talk to me. They asked me if I had any weapons or anything dangerous, and I told them, "no." They proceeded to ask if they may search my vehicle to which I replied, "yes." The did not find anything inside the car. However, when they looked through my trunk they found the pair nunchaku and placed me under arrest for possession.
They asked me what I had them for, to which I told them, "I used them a long time ago for a skit in a High School video project/assignment." (Which I really REALLY did!) I was later told that under California law nunchaku are illegal and is a felony?! I was transported to my county jail in which I went through Intake and was Released under my own recognizance(?).

So my main question as per the title is, how serious is this? To be honest, as soon as I heard the word, "Felony," my heart wrenches in fear. I am really scared about this...... Is all I can do tell the story again (the truth!) and hope the DA will dismiss the charge? I am set for arraignment on the morning of this coming Tuesday, September 25th.

To introduce myself, I am currently employed nearly full time, and I also am a full time college student. I know its hard to tell through the internet, but hopefully my proper grammar and sentence structure is enough to convince you all that I am a good kid. If anyone has some advice, please do share.

Please help!
K

EDIT:

Forgot to add another important pieces of information:

- The nunchucks were not originally mine, they were a friends (from high school!), I still have contact with this friend

[Hoshnasi]

No telling how much you said to the police. Hard to say how bad this could go. Lawyer up and do it now.

[safewaysecurity]

This is why you NEVER let cops search your car even if you think "you have nothing to hide" there are a lot of dumb laws on the books and you can't possibly know all of them. You also shouldn't have responded when they asked you what you had them for. You just tell them that you want a lawyer and that's it. Yes this is SERIOUS. It's a felony and if you have any guns and you get convicted they all have to go bye-bye. Luckily for you, there is a case involving nunchucks claiming that they are arms protected under the Second Amendment. If the DA is an A-hole and decided to prosecute you then that would probably be your best defense. I'm guessing the DA is just going to be a lazy prick a-hole who will probably offer some sort of plea bargain deal.

Let us know how it goes. It sucks you got arrested for this dumb law.

[Rockit]

Lawyer. Sooner than later.
In reality the DA probably won't file (at least in my county), but best to be prepared.
Do you have any sort of record involving violence?

[HBsurvivalist]

This is why you NEVER let cops search your car even if you think "you have nothing to hide" there are a lot of dumb laws on the books and you can't possibly know all of them. You also shouldn't have responded when they asked you what you had them for. You just tell them that you want a lawyer and that's it. Yes this is SERIOUS. It's a felony and if you have any guns and you get convicted they all have to go bye-bye. Luckily for you, there is a case involving nunchucks claiming that they are arms protected under the Second Amendment. If the DA is an A-hole and decided to prosecute you then that would probably be your best defense. I'm guessing the DA is just going to be a lazy prick a-hole who will probably offer some sort of plea bargain deal.

Let us know how it goes. It sucks you got arrested for this dumb law.

So what happens if I respond, "no" to a search question? Don't I waive some certain privileges?

[Rockit]

So what happens if I respond, "no" to a search question? Don't I waive some certain privileges?

Nope. Tell me no and one of two things are gonna happen. I search anyway because I have already established PC, or we part ways.
Where did this occur?

[durandal]

Personally i think Its a racist law:

nunchucks, kubotan (palm stick), shuriken (ninja star), chain whip, three section staff, tonfa (night stick), balisong (butterfly knife) and karambit are all prohibited under the same law.

[DEPUTYBILL]

Get a lawyer. Say no more on this or any forum. In the area I live in,the DA takes into account,your past criminal history(if any),gang related(if any),circumstances of the stop/detention. Good luck.

[Baconator]

You are supposed to roll up your window and play "**** tha Police" really loud on your stereo while holding up your copy of the Constitution.

At least that's how I do it.

[wilit]

On the serious scale, I'd rate this at extremely serious. You need a lawyer.

[Jazeronthelaser]

You should've just been polite and said "Sorry officer. I do n

[Jazeronthelaser]

Continued...(whoops) "I do Not consent to unwarranted searches." What were you doing wrong? Nothing right? You have rights. Assert them.

[bill_k_lopez]

OP, how old are you? Just would like to know.

[Full Clip]

"This is why you NEVER let cops search your car even if you think "you have nothing to hide"...

Exactly, and I'm sorry the OP is learning this the very hard way.

[joash]

Should have said "whoa! I knew I shouldn't have loaned my car to Bruce Lee."