James Young, a former DEA agent, is awaiting trial on felony charges.

Young allegedly pointed a gun at a fellow federal agent during a 2022 incident at the DEA’s office in Los Angeles.

The DEA promoted Young twice despite documented concerns about his behavior and mental health, according to court testimony and records reviewed by The Times.

David Doherty was standing at his desk inside the Los Angeles headquarters of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration when a supervisor from another office stormed in hurling profanities.

Doherty testified at a preliminary hearing in a San Fernando courtroom earlier this year that a fellow agent, James Young, got “face to face” with Doherty and challenged him to a fight without provocation.

Doherty said he tried to deescalate by hugging Young and

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