Two Bay Area men are in federal custody, charged with plotting to blow up the @CA_Dem HQ in Sacramento. To understand why, @KQED interviewed people who knew them & reviewed 100s of pages of documents. Here’s what we found out 👇tinyurl.com/2uhdyj8b @SmallRadio2 @OtisRTaylorJR
2/ Jarrod Copeland, originally from Kentucky, started working as a mechanic at Ian Rogers’ auto repair shop in Napa in 2011. He left to join the Army. After he was OTH discharged, prosecutors say, Copeland joined an affiliate of the III%ers, an anti-government militia movement.
3/ Screenshots show Copeland's FB account was associated with a now defunct private group for Bay Area members of "3UP." Members claimed 3UP was a social club, not a militia. Court records show Copeland told law enforcement that his group were just "preppers."
4/ After Biden won the 2020 presidential election, court records show Copeland and Rogers bragged to each other via encrypted messages about carrying out violent, politically-motivated attacks. Around Thanksgiving, Rogers sent Copeland the Dem HQ address. This exchange followed: 
5/ In Jan '21, weapons + pipe bombs were seized from Rogers' home and business. Copeland got word and allegedly contacted a militia leader who advised him to delete his communication w/ Rogers. When FBI searched his home, prosecutors say those messages were missing from his phone
6/ Six months after Rogers was taken into custody, FBI agents arrested Copeland in Sacramento. He was charged with conspiracy to destroy by fire or explosive a building used in interstate commerce and destruction of records in official proceedings. Mug shot via Solano County.
7/ Copeland's cousin, Novice Doublin, told KQED his family is shocked. “As far as I can remember, he’s never even had a speeding ticket ... A lot of people talk shit. Most people don’t pay it no attention. I don’t think Jarrod realized the severity behind the conversation.”
8/ Copeland faces a statutory maximum of 25 years in prison. His attorney said he has entered a no-contest plea and is awaiting sentencing. That depends in part on what kind of plea deal Rogers can get. His next court date is scheduled for May 27. @KQEDNews
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