Victorville man acquitted in alleged attack on female deputy now faces federal charges

A Victorville man previously acquitted of state level charges after allegedly beating a female sheriff's deputy and shooting at her with her own gun now faces a new federal case.

Ari Aki Young, 26, was arrested Wednesday on federal charges stemming from the encounter that took place on Sept. 4, 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. They include one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of using and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and one count of possession of a stolen firearm and stolen ammunition.

The federal complaint was filed July 28.

The incident

The deputy had been summoned to a 911 call from Young's mother who asked to have him removed from the home.

"The victim, a female sheriff’s deputy who weighed 135 pounds, responded to the call – alone," U.S. DOJ spokesman Ciaran McEvoy said in a written statement.

The deputy patted Young down to check for weapons, he said.

"Young resisted and threatened to headbutt her. Young then forcefully knocked away the deputy’s baton and began to pummel her in the head and face with his fists."

"While being punched in the face and head, the victim un-holstered her weapon and warned that she would shoot," according to McEvoy.

Young attempted to grab the weapon and two shots were fired as the the two struggled over the gun, officials said.

"After he had the gun, Young stood upright, racked the gun, and pointed it at the deputy as she staggered to her feet, pleaded for her life, and tried to sprint away from him," McEvoy said. "Young then fired a round toward her."

Young allegedly fired another shot as other deputies arrived at the scene. They returned fire, wounding him before taking him into custody.

The injured deputy medically retired following the incident, officials said.

Portions of the incident were captured on cell phone video by a witness.

The first trial

Young was tried in March of 2023 on state-level charges including attempted murder and assault with a firearm on a peace officer, according to San Bernardino County Superior Court records. He denied the charges and also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

The jury ultimately acquitted Young of all the charges, except for a single county recklessly discharging a firearm.

Young's defense attorney argued that his client never pointed the weapon at the female deputy, NBC4 reported at the time.

“If he’s found not guilty, then what happened to me?,” the ex-deputy, Meagan McCarthy, told NBC. "This is just how I feel — if a video proof of a crime occurring is not enough to change a narrative that people hear, then what will be enough?”

Conviction could bring decades-long sentence

Young was scheduled to make an initial appearance Wednesday in federal court in Riverside.

Federal jurisdiction results from the legal premise that the firearm and ammunition allegedly stolen during the robbery had traveled in interstate commerce, prosecutors said.

Defense attorney Raj Maline, who represented Young during his previous trial, told ABC7 he was outraged by the new federal case.

"It's unbelievable that they would stoop this low," he said. "I've never seen anything like this in 25 years. This is about as low as I've seen a prosecutor go."

U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada called the alleged attack "completely unacceptable."

"In responding to a domestic disturbance call and trying to protect defendant’s mother, the victim was met by a defendant who allegedly beat her, robbed her of her service weapon, and shot at her as she ran for her life," he said. "Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for us every day and deserve to be protected from violent attacks such as this one.”

Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives and Firearms Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge called the alleged attack "inhumane."

"These violent individuals will be held accountable for their merciless attacks," he said. "ATF is committed to building cases against the ruthless individuals who have no regard for other’s lives."

If convicted as charged, Young could face between 10 and 40 years in federal prison, officials said.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victorville man acquitted in alleged deputy attack faces federal case