A Santa Clara man made his first appearance in federal court on Friday to face charges that he lied about his history of mental illness when buying nearly a dozen guns, including plans to commit a mass shooting in 2017 and time in a psychiatric institution.
Federal prosecutors said Friday Clayton Girard, 27, had been indicted last month “with making false statements in the acquisition of a firearm” between October 2023 and 2026, when he allegedly bought 11 firearms, “including AR-style rifles, semiautomatic pistols, and shotguns.” Girard is in federal custody and faces up to 10 years per violation of federal law.
Prosecutors allege Girard broke the law by falsely claiming he had never been committed to a mental institution to purchase guns from federally licensed dealers. Under the 1968 Gun Control Act, persons “committed to any mental institution” are prohibited from buying firearms.
According to federal prosecutors, Girard was involuntarily held in a psychiatric institution in New York in 2017 after authorities found “detailed plans to commit a mass shooting at his school and to abduct and murder a specific acquaintance” in his journal.
Federal agents raided Girard’s home in Santa Clara and found 10 firearms, “a large amount” of ammunition, tactical gear and high-capacity magazines, prosecutors said.
“An individual who threatened former classmates, authored a manifesto describing horrific acts of violence, and subsequently acquired numerous firearms presents precisely...
A Santa Clara man made his first appearance in federal court on Friday to face charges that he lied about his history of mental illness when buying nearly a dozen guns, including plans to commit a...