Nevada man indicted by grand jury in potential plot to attack Seattle colleges
Jul 10, 2013, 5:51 PM | Updated: 7:12 pm
Justin Jasper, 22, appears at a bail hearing on Friday, July 5, in Seattle. Jasper was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $2 million bail after authorities found six firebombs in his stolen vehicle, plus several knives, including a machete, and several guns. They also found a recording of a podcast that appears to have Jasper expressing support for the Brazilian revolution. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A Nevada man arrested with an arsenal of weapons near the University of Washington has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Seattle.
Justin M. Jasper, 22, was charged with five counts, including transportation of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen firearms, possession of destructive devices, and possession of explosives during the commission of a felony.
“Mr. Jasper will be brought into federal custody and the state charges will be dismissed,” said Emily Langlie with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents, Jasper stole a 1998 Dodge Ram from the home of an acquaintance in Butte, Mont., sometime before Tuesday, July 2. The truck was reported stolen the morning of Wednesday, July 3, and officers with the University of Washington Police Department conducted a high-risk felony traffic stop when the vehicle was spotted on campus late that night.
Inside the vehicle were a stolen rifle, a stolen shotgun, body armor, knives, a machete, and six firebombs described as Molotov cocktails. Police also recovered detailed maps to the campuses of Seattle University, the University of Washington and South Seattle Community College, according to court documents.
“In addition to that, he had documents indicating that he had, or felt some sympathies for protests going on in the country of Brazil as well as political turmoil in the country of Syria,” said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff for the prosecutor’s office. “Implying that that’s why he was near these university campuses with these particular weapons.”
Jasper will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
