Southern California

Man Faces Hate Crime Allegations After Allegedly Making Threats Against Islamic Center

A 40-year-old man faces hate crime allegations after his arrest in connection with making criminal threats against the Islamic Center of Southern California, officials said.

Mark Lucian Feigin, of Agoura, was arrested on Wednesday, police said. He was arrested during a traffic stop near his mobile home, where neighbors say he lives with his mother.

He is suspected of calling in threats to the Islamic Center twice -- once on Sept. 19 and again the next day, LAPD Cmdr. Horace Frank, of the Counter Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, said in a news conference.

During a search of the suspect's mobile home, detectives found numerous rifles, shotguns, handguns, several modified high-capacity magazines and thousands of rounds of ammunition, Frank said.

Police said there's no evidence he had plans to carry out his threats, but they said he had the means to do so.

"The male caller threatened to kill the person who answered the phone along with other members of the center because of the caller's hatred for Muslims and his belief that Muslims will destroy the United States," Frank said. "The right to free speech is a hallmark of our society. But that right is not and cannot be unabated. Mr. Feigin broke the law when he threatened the lives of the individuals at the Islamic Center."

Frank said the investigation is ongoing, but detectives have no evidence of an actual plan.

A felony complaint filed by the California Attorney General's Office in Los Angeles Superior Court on Oct. 18 alleges criminal threats, annoying phone calls and hate crime allegations.

Islamic Center spokesman Omar Ricci said Muslims would stand resilient against such hate.

"The Islamic Center of Southern California has been a bit shaken by this event," he said. "But while we have been a bit shaken by this, this is not unusual."

Feigin has a real estate license. NBC4 found a flier with his picture advertising a free AR-15 assault rifle to anyone who buys a home from him.

Feigin's attorney Dan Perlman described his client as a "good, decent man who believes in brotherhood."

"When we receive the police reports, it will become clear that this was all an unfortunate misunderstanding," the statement reads. 

Angie Crouch contributed to this report.

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