Tahe armed man arrested on his way to the LA Pride parade, James Wesley Howell, has been formally charged with child molestation in his home state of Indiana, TheWrap has learned.
Howell is accused of sleeping with a 12-year-old girl whom he knew through one of his friends, according to the Clark County prosecutor’s office. If convicted of the level-three felony, he faces up to 16 years in prison. Howell was under investigation for the crime in Indiana when he traveled to California.
On Tuesday, Howell was charged with two felonies in connection with his arrest in Santa Monica during the early morning hours on Sunday, just after the deadly nightclub mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.
Howell faces one felony count each of unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of a destructive device on a public street and manufacturing or importing a large magazine, as well as one misdemeanor count of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, per the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
If convicted on the California charges, Howell faces up to nine years, eight months in prison.
Police found three assault rifles and a five-gallon bucket filled with chemicals in a car belonging to Howell after a resident notified police of his suspicious behavior, including loitering and knocking on doors.
The Santa Monica Police Department, which initially said it believed the suspect intended to attack the annual West Hollywood parade, recanted that statement late Sunday.
In a revised statement, authorities said that Howell did not intend to “harm” attendees at the parade but merely wanted to attend the event, which draws thousands to support the LGBT community.