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FEDERAL COURT, April 1 – 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)

On April 1, 2022 Coffman was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Inner City Press live tweeted it here

OK - now in Jan 6 case of Lonnie Coffman, he is about to be sentenced by DDC Judge Kollar-Kotelly. Inner City Press has reported on the mason jar / Molotov cocktail case

AUSA: He should get the mid-point of the sentencing guideline. He was filmed at a militia meeting in Texas. Defense: Mr. Coffman came to DC because he wanted to find out for himself. He did not coordinate with others.

Defense: Mr. Coffman went to Pentagon City with a woman for pizza. Then he came back and said, That's my truck. Mr. Coffman wanted answers to questions he had about the election. He's been honest throughout.

Coffman (sobbing) - "Lewisburg... I got COVID... they put me in quarantine for a few weeks... I still love my ex-wife... Judge: I'd like to take five minutes, to look at my notes.

 Judge Kollar-Kotelly is back, to impose sentence. Judge: The defendant drove from Alabama, parked near the Capitol. The pick-up contained loaded guns and a cross-box, a stun gun, a cooler with 11 mason jars with holes in the lid, and gas inside

 Judge Kollar-Kotelly: Mr. Coffman spend two tours in Vietnam. So he certain knows what napalm can do. And he kept lists - that's concerning. His militia seems more concerned about immigration. He has entered a plea. He did not damage while in DC

Judge Kollar-Kotelly: He had an armory in his truck. This must be deterred. 46 months have been suggested - I decided that separately. That is the correct way to do this. So, I sentence Lonnie Coffman to 46 months

 Note: Coffman will get credit for his time being incarcerated since January 6, 2021 - so, 46 months minus 14 months is 32 months. Butner is being recommended: Coffman says he needs a shoulder replacement.

 Judge: Supervised release will be in Alabama

The plea: 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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