July 21 (UPI) — A father and son have been arraigned on charges for kidnapping two federal biologists at gunpoint in California.
Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, were in federal court in Sacramento, Calif., on Monday when they were charged with kidnapping a federal employee and aiding and abetting.
The charges stem from the Henrichsens allegedly confronting two female U.S. Forest Service staff biologists last week at Gumboot Lake Campground in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in California. Joseph was armed with a rifle when he approached the biologists in a remote area of the forest. He zip-tied their hands behind their backs and ordered them to a trailer nearby where they were held.
When they arrived at the trailer, Phoenix joined them, court documents say.
At one point, Joseph took one of the biologists in the Forest Service Nissan that they were using before the kidnapping and drove her several miles away where he used her phone to call a federal forest ranger. He left a message for the ranger informing them that he had taken two hostages and was armed.
“I’ve taken two fed biologists hostage from the Forest Service,” Joseph said, the affidavit reads. “I’m driving in the ranger vehicle right now. Her hands are behind her [expletive] back, and I’ve got live rounds ready.”
Law enforcement officials responded after the message was received, beginning an hourslong standoff on Friday. The Henrichsens surrendered and were arrested that day after hostage negotiations.
The victims were released safely.
The affidavit accuses Phoenix of aiding and abetting for keeping “watch” of the trailer when his father was not around.
The Henrichsens face a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. A preliminary examination is scheduled for Aug. 3.
President Donald Trump delivers a prime-time address to the nation from the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Pool photo by Saul Loeb/UPI | License Photo
Lee Andrews shared wild new claims about his gunpoint arrestCredit: Instagram/@wesleeeandrewsKatie Price’s husband said it was the ‘most horrific place’ he’s ever seenCredit: wesleeeandrews/instagram
Lee was released from Dubai’s notorious Al Awir prison on Friday and he has now shared a new account of what happened on social media.
The self-proclaimed businessman claimed: “I will say it one more time, the national guard who took me in the beginning, they had guns and they don’t register you as being arrested.
“They can just take you and hold you, which is what happened.
“Anywhere in the world you go to an airport, they have guns patrolling the boarder and they took me and not in the best way either.
Lee claimed wife Katie saved his lifeCredit: wesleeandrews/InstagramLee called for Susanna Reid to be sacked after she mocked him on Good Morning BritainCredit: ITV
“It wasn’t the best experience and from there they held me in state security, so I was transfered to a jail, which was the worst f***ing horrendous place I’ve ever seen and then into a mainstream.”
Earlier today, Leehit out at Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid for mocking him on yesterday’s show.
Calling for her to be sacked after she “rolled her eyes” at him live on air, Lee has even vowed to sit down with the host on live TV.
Taking to Instagram, Lee hit back as he said: “What is Susanna Reid rolling her eyes at?
“I’m not gonna comment on that, because obviously I’ll get onto the sofa with Katie at some point and we’ll thrash it out.
“And she can be as forthcoming as she likes.”
He then claimed Susanna is “prejudging” him unfairly.
“But to actually judge me without any evidence, calling me a conman, she should lose her job for that,” he fumed, calling for her axe from the breakfast programme.
Lee continued to say that she had “no solid evidence other than an ex coming forward”.
KATIE Price’s husband Lee Andrews has broken his social media silence since going missing weeks ago.
The 43-year-old has claimed he was “captured at gunpoint” and “slapped around” before being accused of spying.
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Lee Andrews has spoken out about being jailedLee then shared a heavily filtered picture of him and his wife Katie Price
He then praised his wife Katie, 48, for her help in getting British authorities involved in his release.
Posting a video of himself on social media with a thicker-looking head of hair, Lee said: “Hi everyone, this is Lee. I’ve been missing now for several weeks. I can tell you I’m now safe and healthy and with my wife.
“I was taken close to the Hattar-Omani border by men at gunpoint and then I was captured by men with assault rifles.
they did slap me around a little bit, little s***s, and I was hand-tied, shackled and also had a hood over my head.
“From there I was taken to a black site and I had no use of my phone and from what I know it was an extended arm of the National Guard and that’s all I can reveal at the moment.
“I have signed disclaimers now with state security and from there I was put into the system.
“At no point have I faced anything to do with fraud allegations or any criminal activities such as that.”
However, UAE officials debunked his claims he was in jail for spying and confirmed he has spent the past four weeks behind bars on suspicion of fraud.
However, UAE officials challenged his claims he was in jail for spying and said he has spent the past four weeks behind bars on suspicion of fraud.
Lee doubled down on his version of events today, adding: “So I’m sending these messages out to my loved ones and my beautiful wife, who without her help involving all the UK authorities, I don’t think I would have got out of that situation.
“Because of the tensions and things happening in the region, and me being so close to the border, this is why I was suspected of espionage and held in a state security building without the use of a telephone and any right to shower, contact or speak to any of my family, including the embassy or my wife.
“So thank you to Katie for making such a noise where the UAE actually listened and let me go.
“From there, I did have a civil case in Dubai, which led to me going into the mainstream prison during the Arabic holiday Eid and I was able to secure my release.
“I’m here now. So thank you for everyone for listening and loved blessings to everyone.”
Katie appeared to accept his story, sharing Lee’s video on Instagram saying: “My husband is back. I love you.”
Pictures showed Katie jumping into Lee’s arms as he picked her up and hugged her before heading to Vox Dubai, an outdoor rooftop cinema, to catch a World Cup football game.
Lee met Katie viaInstagramin January and married in Dubai just nine days later in a whirlwind romance.
Katie told critics who have questioned her decisions: “I know people have been calling me stupid, I see all the trolling, I hear it.
“I am not stupid. Trust me, I am protected in every way. My card has been marked and I have been taking notes.
“There is no way he would mess with me, and in a way I feel protected because I have the nation looking out for me. I’m not a mug and when I finally see Lee, I am going to question him.
“And if the answers I get are not right, that will be it: I’ll be done. That’s it. And I’ll just get on with my life… and not find a man on Instagram and message him….”
The court mandated that a total fine of £140,000 would need to be cleared before he could be released.
While imprisoned, Lee requested during a prison phone call that Katie start an online fundraising page to help raise the money, but she told him: “No one will do that for you, Lee, trust me. Everyone hates you.”