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Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today returned a five-count indictment that charges a San Gabriel Valley man who allegedly fired BB guns at the Planned Parenthood facility in Pasadena with violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
Richard Royden Chamberlin, 53, who currently resides in Altadena, but also maintains a residence in Ontario, was charged with two counts of forcible interference with the obtaining and provision of reproductive health services. A third charge alleges attempted forcible interference with the obtaining and provision of reproductive health services. No one was injured in any of the shootings, and the FACE Act violations alleged in the indictment are misdemeanor offenses.
The indictment alleges that Chamberlin fired BB guns at the Planned Parenthood facility on multiple occasions in 2020 and 2021. Count one of the indictment specifically alleges an attack on March 30, 2021, in which a patient’s support companion was nearly hit as she waited on the front porch of the women’s health clinic.
The indictment also charges Chamberlin with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition for carrying a loaded handgun during the final drive-by attack on the Planned Parenthood facility on May 7, 2021. Following that alleged BB gun shooting, the Pasadena Police Department located Chamberlin in his vehicle near the Planned Parenthood facility, and they discovered vehicle multiple BB guns, as well as a.22-caliber handgun loaded with 10 bullets, according to court documents. Chamberlin, who was previously convicted of a narcotics-related felony in Arizona, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Following his arrest on May 7, the Pasadena City Attorney’s Office filed firearms-related charges against Chamberlin. Federal authorities began to investigate the matter and last month filed a criminal complaint against Chamberlin alleging the felon-in-possession offense.
The FBI arrested Chamberlin on January 28. In conjunction with his arrest, FBI special agents executed search warrants at Chamberlin’s two residences. At the Ontario residence, investigators recovered thousands or rounds of ammunition. The indictment also charges Chamberlin with being a felon in possession of ammunition.
The two felon-in-possession charges alleged in the indictment each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Each of the three FACE Act charges carry up to one year in prison.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Chamberlin, who was freed on bond following his arrest on January 28, has been ordered to appear for an arraignment in United States District Court in Los Angeles on February 17.
The FBI’s Civil Rights Squad and the Pasadena Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Frances S. Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section is prosecuting this case.
Ciaran McEvoy
Public Information Officer
United States Attorney’s Office
Central District of California (Los Angeles)
ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov
(213) 894-4465