Iced Earth guitarist and founder Jon Schaeffer and his lawyers have cut a deal in the case the US Government has building against him, bringing six federal charges his role in the insurrection against the United States on January 6th at the Capitol. Schaeffer has charged with six federal crimes. Last week his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the charges against the guitarist for his involvement under the claim that the government has violated the Speedy Trial Act, which establishes maximum time periods for different stages of federal criminal prosecution. Since the Speedy Trial Act required the government to file an information or an indictment within 30 days of Schaffer’s arrest, the “complaint must be dismissed,” they wrote. A judge had ruled that Schaffer would be held without bail until a trial.
BREAKING: We have our first plea agreement negotiation in the US Capitol Insurrection.
Per new court filing
Oath Keeper Jon Schaffer, accused of attacking police with bear spray. Feds say Schaffer is "anarchist" who views government as "criminal enterprise" pic.twitter.com/PGKCKzYsNw
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) April 5, 2021
Schaffer has previously waived his preliminary hearing as well as his rights to an identity hearing and production of a warrant seven weeks ago in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, court documents state. He was supposed to be transported by a United States marshal to Washington, D.C. where government lawyers and Schaffer’s legal team have mutually agreed to handle all proceedings.
Schaffer is entitled to a hearing on the issue of pretrial detention upon his arrival in D.C., court documents said.
Seven weeks ago, government lawyers asked the judge to not offer Schaffer a bond when he goes in front of U.S. magistrate.
Schaffer must prove to the federal magistrate that he is not a threat to himself or the public before being released on bail. Others who have been charged for insurrection at the Capitol have been given bail but ordered to surrender their firearms, avoid contact with other alleged Capitol rioters and stay away from all state capitol buildings. Some other alleged rioters have been prohibited from using social media and participating in any political rallies.