An ex-soldier pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge for posting a YouTube video in which he threatened to kill four of his former colleagues at Fort Irwin Army Base and their families, prosecutors said.
Christian Ernest Beyer, 42, of Petaluma admitted to one count of sending threats by interstate communication in federal court in Riverside, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
He had been a soldier assigned to Fort Irwin before being court martialed for assault in 2021, according to DOJ spokesman Ciaran McEvoy.
Beyer posted a three-minute video to his personal YouTube page in October of 2023, which "contains multiple threats directed at four victims and their families," McEvoy said in an written statement . "The victims were specific military personnel at Fort Irwin."
FBI agents took Beyer into federal custody in November of 2023, officials added.
He was scheduled to return to court for a sentencing hearing on Sept. 20. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office Akil Davis said his agency's Joint Terrorism Task Force will investigate and prosecute any and all threats to American military personnel.
"Mr. Beyer sought to take his personal vengeance out on innocent military members honorably serving their country, as well as their families," he said.
More: SoCal task force recovers $8 million in stolen cargo, 20 stolen cars; meth lab dismantled
U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada said service members deserve "our utmost appreciation and respect, not fear and intimidation."
"Threats against our servicemembers, as against all public servants, cannot and will not be tolerated," he said.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Ex-soldier convicted of making online threats against Fort Irwin Army Base personnel
Most Popular
Comments / 0