Richmond Man Charged with Multiple Felonies Related to Illegal Weapons Possession

Martinez, California – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed a 21-count felony complaint against a Richmond man for possessing a large cache of illegal weapons, high-capacity magazines, and homemade explosives.

68-year-old Lawrence Robert Hansen of Richmond is in custody after he was arrested on an outstanding warrant on March 17^th by Richmond Police. Hansen is also listed on the Armed and Prohibited Persons System which tracks individuals who are barred from owning or possessing firearms.

Between 2022-2023, Hansen made several violent firearm-related threats to medical staff at a Walnut Creek clinic while seeking treatment. Staff members reported those threats to Walnut Creek Police on September 18^th, 2023. In a separate incident, Hansen was transported to a hospital in Walnut Creek on September 26^th, 2023, for a medical issue. During an examination, a staff member saw that Hansen had a handgun (later determined to be loaded) in his waistband area. The weapon was taken from Hansen and police were informed.

Because of the legal prohibition against Hansen possessing firearms, as well as threats made to medical employees, members from the Contra Costa Anti-Violence Support Effort Task Force, California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Firearms, and Contra Costa County Probation Officers searched Hansen’s residence with a court-ordered warrant in Richmond on January 31, 2024. During the search, agents found 11 machine guns, more than 130 handguns, 37 rifles, 60 assault rifles, 7 shotguns, 3000 large capacity magazines, several grenades (inert), homemade explosives, incendiary ammunition, and around one million rounds of ammunition.

Hansen was arraigned on March 18^th in Martinez. He entered a plea of not guilty and is being held without bail in the Martinez Detention Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 27^th in Department 23 at 8:30 am.

Case No. 02-24-00234 | The People of the State of California v. Hansen, Lawrence Robert

No other information was released by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

Previous DA Stories

• March 18 – Former Contra Costa Fire Battalion Chief Admits to Felony Grand Theft Charge
• March 1 – Felony Charges Filed Against Man for Criminal Acts During a Protest in El Cerrito
• Feb 24 – Man Convicted in 2021 Mass Shooting in Richmond