| In Jan 6
Case Lonnie Coffman Pled to Molotov
Cocktails But Says Mason Jars Had No Gas
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
FEDERAL COURT,
Nov 12 – Lonnie Coffman has
been detained on charges
including bringing 11 Molotov
cocktails to Washington on
January 6. But on November 12
he said there was no gas in
his mason jars. After more
than two hours, his guilty
plea was nonetheless approved.
Inner City Press live tweeted
it here
(podcast here)
now Jan 6 case of
US v. Lonnie
Coffman. Or cases - he's
pleading to a DC and an
Alabama case.
Coffman:
They used tear gas here in the
DC Jail but they used it wrong
and I was hit by it. Judge
Colleen Kollar-Kotelly: But
you're right to go forward
with the plea, right? Coffman:
Yes.
Judge
Kollar-Kotelly: You're
pleading guilty to carry a
pistol outside the home
outside the home or place of
business, multiple counts.
Large capacity ammo feeding
device. Also the DC code.
"Count 15, unlawful possession
of ammunition of DC code."
Judge: You
are agreeing to forfeit the
liquid you brought into the
District of Columbia. Eleven
Molotov cocktails. You will
not be getting back the guns
seized in the District of
Columbia. You're agreeing to
continue to be held without
bond until the sentencing.
Judge: How
old are you? Coffman: 71. I
was born Jan 17, 1950. Judge:
Schooling? Coffman: I got my
GED while I was in the
military. I was born at home
in Alabama. There were not
records so I don't have a
birth certificate.
Judge: Have
you ever been hospitalized for
mental illness? Coffman: No,
your Honor. Judge: Have you
read the charges? Coffman:
Yes.
AUSA: In the
pickup truck where machetes, a
cross box, a stun gun, 11
mason jars... With holes in
the cap, with golf tees in
them AUSA: There were Molotov
cocktails under 26 USC 5458f.
He walked toward
the Capitol and toward a rally
near the National Mall. He
carried two additional loaded
firearms - pistols, designed
to be fired with a single
hand.
Coffman:
Only one gun was on the
passenger's seat. The rest
were under the seat. Judge:
The others, where were they?
Coffman: Under the rear seat.
Judge: What about
the machete and stun gun and
the cooler with Mason jars? Do
you agree with that? Coffman:
Yes.
Judge:
You're saying there was no gas
in the jars? Coffman: No, it
had evaporated. Judge: I don't
think I can accept this plea.
It's no longer a destructive
device. Do you want to talk to
your client? AUSA: Let them
talk privately. The defendant
signed this.
[During
amateur-hour break-out room,
this Press Room quip, based on
"if the glove don't fit, you
must acquit" - "If there's no
gas in the jar This plea's not
going' very far."]
[They've
back, trying to patch up this
ragged plea] Defense lawyer:
He put gas in. That it
evaporated later doesn't
matter. And he'll say that.
Judge: When you put them
together a couple of years ago
and put them in your truck,
did you have the rags?
Coffman: Yes
Judge:
AUSA, was there gas in the
jars?
[Pause.]
AUSA: We believe
the chemical analysis would be
a gasoline. Judge: Give me a
moment to look at this.... You
don't know there wasn't gas,
right? Coffman: Yes, Your
Honor. Judge: AUSA, are you
satisfied? AUSA: Yes.
Judge
Kollar-Kotelly says she is
accepting the guilty plea to
Molotov cocktail. Judge
after more than 2 hours
accepts DDC guilty pleas, says
Coffman "looks tired." Then
Alabama pleas accepted.
Sentencing April
1
***
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