Heavy metal guitarist will be first US Capitol rioter to plead guilty

[DonViejo]

Source: CNN

By Marshall Cohen
Published 11:23 AM EDT, Fri April 16, 2021

(CNN) — A heavy metal guitarist with ties to the Oath Keepers will plead guilty Friday to two crimes related to the Capitol insurrection, according to court documents, making him the first rioter to plead guilty.

Court documents indicate that Jon Ryan Schaffer, from the heavy metal group Iced Earth, will plead guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and entering a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He brought bear spray into the Capitol.

A hearing is currently underway in Washington, DC, federal court.

This story is breaking and will be updated.



Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/16/politics/oath-keepers-capitol-guilty-plea-schaffer/index.html

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By KYLE CHENEY

04/16/2021 11:47 AM EDT

Updated: 04/16/2021 12:08 PM EDT

Jon Schaffer, a heavy metal guitarist and self-described "lifetime member" of the Oath Keepers, on Friday became the first Capitol rioter to plead guilty to charges based on his participation in the attack and has entered into a cooperation agreement with the government.

The move from Schaffer came at an unannounced proceeding before U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta on Friday morning. During a lengthy plea dialogue with Metha, Schaffer acknowledged that the deal requires him to "cooperate fully with the United States," from sitting for interviews to providing any evidence he has of known crimes. As part of the agreement, the Justice Department has offered to sponsor Schaffer for the witness protection program, Mehta noted.

Schaffer, who was seen on camera deploying chemical spray at officers, pleaded guilty to charges that he obstructed Congress' effort to certify the 2020 election results and that he unlawfully entered a restricted building.

The plea negotiations with prosecutors and Schaffer were inadvertently disclosed earlier this month, when a sealed Justice Department filing was accidentally posted on the public docket. “The government’s ongoing plea negotiations with this defendant are the first and most advanced plea negotiations involving any of the over 300 Capitol Riot defendants,” prosecutors wrote in the April 5 filing.

more
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/16/capitol-riot-guilty-plea-oath-keepers-482377

[BlueTsunami2018]

1. That asshole is not indicative of Metal culture.

It sucks to be associated with him in any way.

[Progressive Jones]

18. No, he's not. I move in Metal circles. I know that "There's one in every crowd" applies here.

That being said, I see a bit of a rightward lean with some in the scene, but I've never come across a
full-on right wing crazy yet.

[Aristus]

22. I heard Dave Mustaine was pretty right-wing.

n/t

[Progressive Jones]

35. Same here. Dave has always been about Dave. That's how he got booted from Metallica. nt

[TalenaGor]

28. 100%

[Withywindle]

34. +1

I used to like this band but that was a VERY long time ago, before his right-wingnuttitude became widely known.

Some genres of metal do have a fascist/Nazi problem. You have to be really vigilant if you like black metal or folk metal (which I do). There are a number of good blogs devoted to rooting them out and helping people decide who's worth supporting and who to stay away from.

Overall though, metalheads are good people.

[C_U_L8R]

2. There's a prison band he can join.

[3Hotdogs]

32. If he's going to wit protection, I doubt he does time.

[riversedge]

3. so, he will tattle on others and get a reduced sentence.

[soothsayer]

8. Yes but that might be fruitful

[riversedge]

11. yes. agree. My guess is he will help ID others who were involved.

[Progressive Jones]

36. Not just "others", but bigger fish. Militia leadership, etc. nt

[TexasTowelie]

10. I know that the circumstances are different,

but when I was an insurance regulator there was one company that was the first to come forward and settle a compliance issue. That company ended up paying the most severe fine, especially when compared to its competitors. The tactic of being the first to plead to a deal does backfire.

[soothsayer]

12. Hmm

[Baked Potato]

4. When Googled, his music bonafides come up, should be

Insurrectionist Anti-American thug.

[Gregory Peccary]

6. It sucks that this event will give his piece of shit band publicity

They will probably get gigs at all the MAGA rallies and boat parades this summer

[redstateblues]

7. Not for a snitch that is turning on his fellow thugs

[FakeNoose]

26. It says he's getting witness protection

I think that means he has already quit the band.

[PSPS]

9. Doubtful we'll see much of him in the future. He'll be in the Witness Protection Program.

[Progressive Jones]

19. His band has been hired guns for years. The current line-up already bolted on him.

With his legal problems, he's going to have a hard time making money.

First, the article mentions going into witness protection.
He won't be able to operate a band like that. He won't be able to assemble a band, and get it ready to tour.
He won't be able to tour. He's in witness protection. He'll be hiding from a known threat.
I'm sure he has a big legal tab right now. I don't know how wealthy he is, but based on my knowledge of "the biz",
and knowing what level his act works at, and for how long, he may be worth single digit millions, at best. That's net worth, not cash.
It takes a lot of money to keep a professional music business alive and profitable. His little stunt is going to bleed him.

[Escurumbele]

25. Lets not underestimate USA citizens when it comes to giving people a 2nd chance

We are really good at that, reason why criminals commit multiple crimes when let out of jail.

His new life, if he gets out, will be to come up as a "born again Christian", that always attracts a lot of the faithful. He will go around giving speeches, and will join a non-Metal band playing inspirational music, and thus become a new idol of sanity.

And...people will pay to see him.

[riversedge]

5. 'he get between 3.5 and 4.5 years in prison, based on how fruitful his cooperation is with

If I understand correctly--he will still get prison--even if very cooperative?? Is this correct?


............One hundred days after the January 6 attack, Schaffer is now the first pro-Trump rioter to plead guilty and admit his crimes. His plea was in the works for at least a few weeks, and recent court filings revealed that he met with federal investigators for several "debrief interviews" last month.

Prosecutors and Schaffer's attorneys agreed to recommend that he get between 3.5 and 4.5 years in prison, based on how fruitful his cooperation is with the government. The sentencing decision will ultimately be made by federal Judge Amit Mehta, who is overseeing the case.

[COL Mustard]

13. The Rats Are Starting To Squeal

Let them turn on each other. I love it!

Popcorn, anyone? This is gonna be real interesting!!!

[Judi Lynn]

14. Such a low attention span. Schaffer displays his grasp of history and literature with his t-shirt:

Dolt-a-rama.

[C Moon]

20. Those look like the freaks who give me dirty looks because I'm wearing a mask while walking my dog.

They never say anything though. If I was a woman, they would.

[bucolic_frolic]

15. Holy

witness protection program. so these rioters feel under threat from other rioters and insurrectionists. only the very best patriots, surely.

[Beachnutt]

16. Maybe he can shed some light on the oath keepers relationship

with Roger stone and trumps boy

[Escurumbele]

27. Very good point...

You may be right.

[paleotn]

30. Quite likely.

Telegraphing to others, in and out of custody, that the feds have them dead to rights and they'd best start talking to save themselves very serious jail time. And hope to God they've got good stuff to tell, as a deal is many times dependent on what info they can provide.

[BlueStater]

23. I hope he gets a least a decade in prison.

Anything short of ten years for these scum is absolutely unacceptable.

[paleotn]

29. The ole flip-o-rino!

He's turned states evidence for a lighter sentence. And if 50 months in a fed prison is a lighter sentence, the others may be in store for some serious jail time.

[hibbing]

31. Call me a cynic call me what you will...

I think the vast majority of these criminals will not spend one day in jail or prison.


Peace

[3Hotdogs]

33. If he's offered witness protection, Its because of fear, Oaf Keepers wilwant to do him harm.

That being so, he can't appear in jail. Can't appear on stage.

New town, new identity, new job.. maybe some plastic surgery

[msfiddlestix]

37. I really do not understand how he is free, regardless of promise to cooperate

He is free to perform and drum up funding for his flight from justice and/or potential appeals. Why in hell would any judge or prosecutor accept his word of a promise to fully cooperate?

Unbelievable.