A 20-year-old Sarasota man has been indicted on federal charges accusing him of possessing an illegal firearm, receiving child sexual abuse material and plotting a racially motivated act of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The man, Lucas Alexander Temple, has been charged with possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of a firearm with a removed serial number and receipt of child sexual abuse material. Authorities describe Temple as a violent extremist” who was found with “Nazi” and mass shooting propaganda. If convicted, Temple faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Temple’s Sarasota home on Nov. 20 and recovered an unregistered sawed-off shotgun with a barrel shorter than the federally required 18 inches, authorities said.
Agents seized multiple items including firearms, ammunition, pipe bombs, a pressure cooker, documents on manufacturing explosives and a written plan outlining Temple’s alleged intentions, according to federal authorities.
The seized note reads:
“Plans: Wear bodycams for livestream. Write mani-festo. Notify friends of livestream. Put flags on car. Play music on car speakers during operation. Place motion-activated bombs in doorway (for cops)”
According to a DOJ press release, investigators say Temple had been communicating online with others about committing violence against minorities and making explosives.
Authorities also recovered extremist propaganda, including Nazi-related materials, writings linked to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado and a flag associated with the Atomwaffen Division, (a US-based racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist group). The group’s targets have included racial minorities, the Jewish community, the LGBTQ community, the United States government, journalists and critical infrastructure.
The DOJ release also stated that Temple also received images depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on at least two occasions. Temple was previously arrested on a criminal complaint.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.
It is unclear where Temple is being housed pending the criminal charges.
Samantha Gholar writes for the USA TODAY Network-Florida and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Connect with her via email at sgholar@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Suspected Sarasota ‘Nazi’ charged in fed extremism, child sex abuse
Reporting by Samantha Gholar, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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