Justin Olsen pleads not guilty to federal charges

August 31, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

The Boardman teen arrested and charged with making threats against federal law enforcement pleaded not guilty to two federal charges Friday afternoon at Thomas D. Lambros Federal Building and Courthouse.

Justin Olsen, 18, was indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio on charges of threatening federal agents and making interstate threats. The first count carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, while the interstate threats charge carries a statutory max of five years.

Olsen was arrested Aug. 7 after a six-month FBI investigation revealed that Olsen voiced support for mass shootings under the username “ArmyOfChrist” on the popular meme site iFunny.com.

When investigators served a search warrant at Olsen’s father’s home, where he was living, they found 26 guns, including at least five assault-style weapons, multiple gun accessories and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition.

All guns but two were locked in a safe in his father’s room. Police also discovered a machete in Justin Olsen’s car.

After more than two hours of testimony at a detention hearing Aug. 16, Magistrate Judge George Limbert determined the risk that Olsen “will endanger the safety of another person or the community” outweighs his spotless criminal record and good grades.

Limbert reaffirmed Friday that Olsen will remain in custody pending his trial.