Man Accused of Threatening Temecula Mosque, Possessing Illegal Guns Arraigned

MURRIETA, CA — A 60-year-old San Diego County man accused of threatening members of a Temecula mosque, writing that he would like to "kill every one of you," as well as possessing high-capacity and illegally modified firearms, pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony and misdemeanor charges.

Louis George White Jr. of Warner Springs, in San Diego County, was arrested Saturday following an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

White is charged with publishing threats against an educational or religious institution, four counts of illegal possession of assault weapons and one count of deprivation of civil rights.

He was arraigned Thursday before Superior Court Judge Theresa Canepa, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Oct. 16 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

White is being held in lieu of $70,000 bail at the nearby Byrd Detention Center.

According to a bail-setting affidavit filed by sheriff's detectives, White sent a letter last week to the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley on Nichols Road, saying "I cannot wait for the day to kill every one of you. It cannot come soon enough! (Expletive) you all!"

When Islamic Center staff received the missive, they immediately notified the sheriff's department. The bail declaration said White's fingerprints were on the letter, prompting detectives to procure and serve a search warrant at the defendant's property in the 35000 block of Peralta Drive, near Highway 78.

During an interview with detectives, White admitted penning the letter while sitting in his kitchen and later dropping it in a U.S. Postal Service box at highways 79 and 371, the affidavit alleged.

White initially apologized for sending the letter but later appeared to recant, telling an investigator that "Muslims are evil," the declaration said. The defendant then asked, "What are you going to do about it?" The investigator replied, "What are you going to do about it?" And White then said, "I can't do anything now; you took my guns."

The defendant acknowledged driving by the Islamic Center "a few times," suggesting that it was on his way to Target and Walmart outlets in Temecula. However, from the defendant's residence near the county line, the shortest route to either of those retailers does not go by the mosque's campus, according to the affidavit.

Threats against the Moslem community were also located on White's social media accounts, court papers alleged.

During the search warrant service, deputies seized two short-barreled rifles illegal to own in California, as well as an "assault weapon with threaded barrel for flash suppressor and a detachable magazine," according to the declaration.

"Two semiautomatic assault weapons with pistol grips and detachable magazines" additionally were seized at the defendant's house, with his girlfriend disclaiming any ownership, according to the sheriff's statement.

"Eleven other firearms were recovered, and at least 3,000 round of miscellaneous ammunition were recovered," the affidavit said.

Court documents showed White has prior convictions in another jurisdiction, but they were not listed.