Father and Son Face New Charges Over Forest Service Worker Hostage Case

A father and son accused of zip-tying US Forest Service workers and holding them hostage near a Northern California campground have been indicted on new federal charges, according to court filings unsealed this week.

The alleged incident

Prosecutors allege Joseph and Phoenix Henrichsen restrained several Forest Service employees who were conducting routine work near Gumboot Lake Campground, holding them for a period before the situation was resolved. The pair had been living out of a camping trailer parked nearby, according to court documents.

• The incident occurred near Gumboot Lake Campground in Northern California
• Prosecutors say the defendants restrained Forest Service workers with zip ties
• A federal grand jury has now indicted both men on expanded charges
• Both defendants remain in federal custody pending trial

The federal indictment expands on an initial criminal complaint filed shortly after the incident, adding charges that prosecutors say reflect the full scope of the alleged offense. The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California is prosecuting the case.

Legal proceedings ahead

Defense attorneys for the two men have not publicly detailed their response to the new charges. A federal magistrate judge is expected to set future court dates for arraignment on the expanded indictment in the coming weeks.

The case has drawn attention amid broader concerns about confrontations involving federal land management employees in remote areas. Forest Service officials said the safety of their staff remains a top priority as the case proceeds through the courts.