Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Valencia Man Arraigned on Weapon Possession Charges

Valencia resident Joseph Yohanna was arraigned in U.S. District Court Monday on one count of possessing machine guns and one count of possessing unregistered firearms.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms said the weapons were found in his home during a search on Dec. 21. The firearms seized in the raid included a 9mm Uzi, .45 caliber MAC-10, .223 caliber CAR-15 and 9mm CAR-9 machine guns. In addition, they seized eight claymore mines containing plastic explosives, two incendiary devices, eight silencers, nine handguns, two shotguns and one rifle.

Also found were a quarter-pound block of TNT, 40 feet of detonating cord and 13 fuse ignitors.

The federal agents searched the home last month after getting a tip from an informant that the firearms were being kept there. But when the agents also found military explosives, they evacuated 32 homes in the quiet, middle-class neighborhood.

Friends, neighbors and relatives have offered strong support for Yohanna, a bodyguard for Interscope Records, since his arrest. About 25 supporters testified on his behalf at a bail hearing last month, rejecting prosecution comments he was a danger to the community and should not be allowed to post bail.

Bail was ultimately set at $350,000. His trial is scheduled to begin March 1.