LOS ANGELES
A Riverside County man who drove to a federal facility in downtown Los Angeles and attempted to enter with three firearms was charged Thursday with a federal firearms offense, officials stated.
A federal criminal complaint filed this afternoon charges Erik Christopher Younggren, 34, of Cherry Valley, with attempted possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in a federal facility, a misdemeanor offense that carries a sentence of up to one year in federal prison.
Younggren is being held in federal custody.
The complaint alleges that Younggren attempted to enter the employee parking lot under the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and the U.S. Courthouse Wednesday at about 9:30 a.m.
When stopped by security at the entrance to the parking facility, Younggren initially stated that he was “a witness” who needed to enter the facility, according to the complaint.
When the security officer asked if he was armed, Younggren admitted to being in possession of a handgun and two rifles, according to the complaint.
A subsequent search of his vehicle led to the discovery of two rifles, a .45-caliber semi-automatic firearm, and approximately 565 rounds of ammunition.
When he was detained by authorities, Younggren was wearing body armor with loaded magazines and knives attached, the complaint alleges.
During an interview with Federal Protective Services, Younggren said he went to the Roybal building because he needed “protection…[and he] explained that he was purportedly a confidential informant assigned to a confidential federal task force,” according to the complaint.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.