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ICED EARTH's JON SCHAFFER Is Continuing To Cooperate With U.S. Capitol Riot Investigators

ICED EARTH's JON SCHAFFER Is Continuing To Cooperate With U.S. Capitol Riot Investigators
ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer, who pleaded guilty seven months ago to his role in the Capitol riot, is continuing to cooperate with authorities while on pre-trial release.

In a joint status update filed on Friday (November 12) in federal court in Washington, D.C., Schaffer‘s attorney Andrew C. Marcantel of Attorneys For Freedom Law Firm wrote: “The Defendant remains on release under the supervision of the District of Columbia Pre-Trial Services Department. He has remained compliant with pre-trial release conditions. He has remained cooperative with law enforcement since his release.

“Multiple defendants charged in the case in which the Defendant is cooperating have been presented before the Court; several are in the process of exploring case resolutions and a trial date has yet to be set. Accordingly, the parties request to file a joint status update on
or about January 8, 2022.”

According to AttorneysForFreedom.com, Marcantel is “a criminal defense attorney with a passion for freedom, individual rights, and government accountability. As an attorney for The Attorneys For Freedom Law Firm, Andrew avidly serves his community by defending its citizens’ rights and holding the government to the standards imposed by the state and federal Constitutions.”

As part of his April 2021 plea deal, Jon entered into a cooperation agreement with the government.

Although Schaffer was initially charged with six crimes, including engaging in an act of physical violence and targeting police with bear spray, he pleaded guilty to only two charges: obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress; and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon. The first charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the second carries up to a 10-year prison term.

According to CNN, prosecutors and Schaffer‘s attorneys agreed to recommend that he get between three and a half and four and a half years in prison, based on how fruitful his cooperation is with the government.

The government agreed not to oppose Schaffer‘s release during the sentencing phase.

As part of the plea deal, Schaffer agreed to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify in related criminal cases, according to CNN. In return for Schaffer‘s assistance, the Justice Department might later urge the judge to show leniency during his sentencing.

As part of the agreement, the Justice Department has offered to sponsor Schaffer for the witness protection program.
ICED EARTH's JON SCHAFFER Is Continuing To Cooperate With U.S. Capitol Riot Investigators
Source: News-BM