Father and son indicted on additional charges after kidnapping Forest Service workers in California
A federal grand jury added assault and weapons charges against Joseph Henrichsen for the July 16 hostage incident involving two U.S. Forest Service biologists, while both he and his son remain in custody.
A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, for kidnapping two U.S. Forest Service employees in Shasta-Trinity National Forest on July 16. The pair had already been charged with two counts each of kidnapping a federal employee; the elder Henrichsen now faces additional counts of assaulting a federal employee with a deadly weapon, brandishing a firearm during a violent crime, and assault on a federal officer.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the two biologists were conducting routine environmental work near Gumboot Lake Campground when Joseph Henrichsen approached them with an AR-10 rifle, bound their hands with zip ties and, with his son’s assistance, forced them into a remote trailer where they were held for about 15 hours. The younger Henrichsen made several phone calls indicating he had taken the employees hostage and was armed.
Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said deputies responded to a 10:55 a.m. call reporting the hostage situation and deployed drones, while the FBI sent agents, a crisis negotiation team, SWAT and a hostage-rescue unit from Redding and Quantico. Negotiations began at 4 p.m., and the FBI secured the safe release of the victims and the surrender of both suspects later that afternoon.
Both Henrichsens remain in custody pending trial. If convicted on the kidnapping charges, they face up to life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine; Joseph Henrichsen could receive an additional maximum sentence of 20 years for the new assault-related charges.