Iced Earth’s guitarist Jon Schaffer has become the first Capitol Rioter to plead guilty as reported by CNN. Stating in the article, Schaffer had ties with the right-wing white supremacy group Oath Keepers. He pleaded guilty to entering the building with a dangerous weapon, admitting that he had bear spray on hand during the January 6 riot.
Schaffer is the first rioter to plead guilty after attending the insurgency. His plea was in the works for few weeks as it has been revealed he had several ‘debrief interviews’ with the FBI. Reported on Blabbermouth, Schaffer had entered a plea deal that involved cooperation with the government. Schaffer was originally charged with six counts but was later dropped to two; the other being obstruction of an official Congress proceeding.
Prosecutors and Schaffer’s attorney have agreed instead a sentence between 3.5 to 4.5 years in prison based on his cooperation with the investigation. But the sentencing decision will be made by Judge Amit Mehta, who is overseeing the case.
Schaffer must also submit to the following conditions: He must give up his passport and any other form of document that can allow him to travel outside the U.S., he is not allowed to own any firearms or weapons, and any that he does own will be removed from him, he is allowed to travel within the U.S.–provided with pretrial services, he must stay outside the D.C. area unless for hearings, and he must submit to supervision in the Northern District of Indiana. It was reported month ago that Schaffer was deemed too dangerous for the community.
Investigators likely asked Schaffer to cooperate and get more information on the far-right group Oath Keepers, although Schaffer’s attorneys insist that Schaffer doesn’t know anything about the group and likely got the hat (which he was seen wearing at the riot) was from a fan. The Indiana Oath Keepers have denied Schaffer’s membership.
Upon Schaffer’s arrest, many of his Iced Earth and Demons and Wizards band members have quit in protest.
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