Jon Schaffer, an Oath Keeper who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and who is also the guitarist for the heavy metal band Iced Earth, says he went through “two months of hell” while incarcerated in the Marion County Jail over his participation in the riot, The Indianapolis Star reports.
According to comments to a judge from March during Schaffer’s detention hearing that are now being revealed, Schaffer’s lawyer said that other inmates “were throwing feces at him and urine at him and threatening his life in a horrible, horrible situation.”
“Shame on us, Judge, that this is happening in our justice system,” lawyer Marc J. Victor told the judge.
After being arrested on Jan. 17, Schaffer was held at the Marion County Jail until he was transported in mid-March to Washington D.C. to face charges.
During the two months he was incarcerated, Schaffer was kept in “Administrative Segregation” due to his high profile status. But weeks after being locked up, Schaffer said he feared for his life. Jail staff then received an emergency grievance from Schaffer, who said that three inmates were targeting him with death threats.
On April 16, Schaffer pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. He had four other charges against him dropped.
Law enforcement says Schaffer sprayed Capitol police officers with bear spray during the riot, pushing officers back and creating a pathway into the Capitol building for the mob. During the March detention hearing, lawyers for Schaffer claimed the charged were overblown.
“He was there for about 60 seconds, Judge,” Victor said. “He walked in, felt somebody tug at his pepper spray, and because he didn’t want it to be stolen from him, that’s the reason he took it out and — and held it in his hand.”
Schaffer faces 41 to 51 months in prison. He has agreed to cooperate with authorities in their ongoing investigation into the Capitol riot.
Read the full report over at The Indianapolis Star.
