It took less than three hours for a jury today to find 67-year-old Larry Gardner guilty of six felony counts of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition in 2004 and 2005.

The Ojai resident is facing more than eight years in prison, in addition to pending, unrelated felony charges pertaining to the theft of more than $1 million when he worked as a bookkeeper from 1999 to 2004 for Henderson Wood Floor of Ventura, according to prosecutor Marc Leventhal.

"He extorted his employers, burned down their business and tried to have them killed," Leventhal said in an interview.

Gardner is charged with a multitude of felonies, including grand theft, arson, extortion and solicitation for murder. The case is set for trial in October, said Leventhal.

Gardner agreed in court today to suspend his sentencing until the pending felony charges are resolved.

As a convicted felon, Gardner can't legally possess firearms, but he had a cache of weapons in a storage locker and inside a safe at his home.

Gardner served a prison term in the late 1960s for burglary and property crimes. He was convicted in 1982 for making false statements to obtain a firearm and in 1990 for illegal possession of an assault rifle, according to Leventhal.

Leventhal said it wasn't clear why Gardner had the weapons.

"Some evidence came out that he might have had survivalist tendencies and was sort of preparing for an Armageddon," said Leventhal.

During closing arguments on Monday, Leventhal went through the evidence seized by police while executing two search warrants June 24, 2004, and Aug. 30, 2005. He said the evidence included exploding bullets, flechette darts, sword canes, throwing metal stars, three rifles, three shotguns and four handguns.

He said 144 pounds of packaged ammunition was found in a tub, plus 350 rounds for a revolver. A copy of the "Anarchist Handbook" was found by detectives, Leventhal said.

Gardner's lawyer, Rod Kodman, argued the weapons and safe belonged to Gardner's stepdaughter, Sara McColloch, who had the safe's combination card.

Kodman showed jurors a large photograph of McColloch holding a shotgun.

In an interview after the verdicts, Kodman said, "I believe these jurors worked hard... I respect their decision."

Kodman declined to comment on his client's pending felony charges.