The Latest: Heavily armed man not allowed to leave Indiana

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – The Latest on the arrest of a heavily armed man who told police he was heading to a gay pride parade (all times local):

11 a.m.

Authorities say they’ll try to revoke the probation of an Indiana man arrested with a cache of weapons and ammunition who said he was headed to a California gay pride parade.

The chief probation officer in Clark County, Indiana, says 20-year-old James Wesley Howell didn’t have permission to leave the state following his guilty plea in April to a misdemeanour intimidation charge.

James Hayden says Howell met on May 22 with a probation officer, who rated him a low-level offender. Hayden says officers hadn’t yet conducted a surprise home visit to check that Howell was following a judge’s order not to have weapons during his one-year probation.

Howell was arrested Sunday in Santa Monica with three assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and ammunition, and explosive chemicals.

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10:15 a.m.

Court records show the Indiana man arrested with a cache of weapons and ammunition who said he was headed to a California gay pride parade was twice accused of threatening people with a gun last year.

Police in Charlestown, Indiana, say the first incident involved James Wesley Howell’s boyfriend last October and the second involved a neighbour four days later.

Howell was charged with intimidation in the second case and reached a plea deal that placed him on probation and prohibited him from having weapons.

The 20-year-old was arrested Sunday in Santa Monica with three assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and ammunition, and explosive chemicals.

Santa Monica police said Howell told them he was in town for the annual gay pride parade in West Hollywood. Police haven’t said whether Howell had any plans to use the weapons.

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7:50 a.m.

A lawyer for a heavily armed Indiana man who told police he was headed to a gay pride parade when they arrested him in California says the suspect’s father is co-operating with the FBI.

Louisville, Kentucky, attorney Bobby Boyd tells station WDRB-TV (http://bit.ly/25XoJG5 ) that the father of James Wesley Howell is shocked by his 20-year-old son’s arrest and is talking to investigators. Boyd asked that the father not be identified.

Howell was arrested Sunday with a car full of assault rifles and chemicals used in making explosives. He told police he was going to LA Pride in West Hollywood, an event that draws hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Boyd, who represented Howell in a Kentucky case, says Howell is trying to find an attorney in California. He’s scheduled to appear in Los Angeles court Tuesday.

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