IB man charged with weapons conspiracy during Capitol incursion

An Imperial Beach man who is already facing federal charges for allegedly climbing the U.S. Capitol using a rope on January 6, 2021, is facing new charges of conspiracy to obstruct or injure officers, alleging that he conspired with others to bring weapons into the Capitol.

Joshua Kaleb Youngerman, 24, is accused of being a member of a California-based group that called itself “The California Patriots-DC Brigade” or “DC Brigade” and used social media to coordinate its trip to Washington, DC, on January 6.

Youngerman already faces one felony and five misdemeanors, but a new indictment filed this week alleges that Youngerman and others, including Ladera Ranch resident Russell Taylor, exchanged messages over a week before Jan. 6 in which they discussed arriving armed with weapons such as knives, brass knuckles, stun guns and pepper spray.

The group's members communicated via the encrypted messaging application Telegram in a group called “The California Patriots-Answer the Call,” the indictment says.

Youngerman reportedly advised members of the group about carrying weapons on air travel, explaining, “I work for Alaska and Delta, so we need to know all this.” He later reportedly wrote that members should make sure their pepper spray contains less than 4 ounces, “and no, you don't have to tell the ticket agent.”

The group was led by Taylor, who wrote on December 29, 2020: “I personally want to stand on the front steps and be one of the first to break down the doors!” the indictment states.

He later reportedly wrote: “Initially, our intention is not to use violence, but our primary mission is to protect our freedoms, and we will not be intimidated by violence against those freedoms. As we get on the ground and events unfold, that may change.”

Taylor allegedly wanted to know if the group members had any police or military experience. Youngerman replied that he had none, but wrote that he would bring “a couple of knives and whatever other self-defense tools I can get my hands on” and that he had “involved multiple hand strikes and had done some MMA training.”

On January 6, Youngerman was reportedly seen on surveillance video climbing a rope up the northwest wall of the Capitol.

The indictment states that he entered the Capitol at 2:37 p.m. but left two minutes later “after encountering chemical munitions in the Rotunda.”

Later that evening, he reportedly posted in the group: “It was an honor to fight with all of you on the front lines today. And I don't plan on stopping even when I get home. This is the beginning of the war. Bless all patriots and let's take America back.”

Youngerman is scheduled to go to trial on the new charges next week.

Taylor has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to six months of house arrest earlier this year for his role in the Capitol breach. Taylor testified as a key witness in the trial of Alan Hostetter, a former Orange County police chief who was convicted of conspiracy for his role in the Jan. 6 riot and sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.