More than a month after being arrested for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Jon Ryan Schaffer is still awaiting extradition to Washington D.C. at the Marion County Jail.
Schaffer, 52, of Edinburgh, turned himself in to police on Jan. 17 after a statement of fact was filed in federal court by an FBI agent. The statement claims that video and photo evidence shows Schaffer as part of the mob that infiltrated the Capitol building on Jan. 6, and that he used a form of bear spray on Capitol Police.
After Schaffer waived his preliminary hearing, as well as his rights to an identity hearing and production of a warrant, on Jan. 22, U.S. Magistrate for the Southern District of Indiana judge Mark Dinsmore signed an order for Schaffer to appear in D.C.’s district court.
The document stated that a U.S. marshal will transport the defendant to the charging district, and that the attorney and the clerk of the court will schedule further proceedings once Schaffer has arrived. The D.C. attorney’s office will have all jurisdiction over Schaffer’s case.
Schaffer has no bond set, or trial date scheduled, at this time.
Indianapolis law enforcement confirmed Schaffer was still being held by the U.S. Marshal Service at the Marion County Jail on Thursday.
Schaffer has six different federal charges filed against him, including engaging in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building.
Photos from Jan. 6 show Schaffer wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt under a tactical vest with a baseball cap that reads “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member.” New video footage from the insurrection, shown on CNN on Feb. 15, appeared to show Schaffer charging through the building’s entrance towards Capitol officers with other rioters.
The FBI has described the Oath Keepers as an organization “that characterizes itself as a militia of former law enforcement and military personnel and has often, as a group, urged President (Donald) Trump to declare Martial Law in order to prevent the Congress from certifying the Electoral College Results.”
The Indiana chapter of the Oath Keepers has put out a statement that Schaffer is not a member of their organization.
Schaffer isn’t the only individual from the riot being held in his home state awaiting trial, as more than 200 federal cases have stemmed from the attack at the Capitol.
The U.S. attorney’s office in D.C. has assigned a special task force of prosecutors to examine whether to bring sedition charges against some of the rioters, as prosecutors and federal agents across the country develop more cases against extremists who plotted to attack the Capitol, according to the The Associated Press.
Thus far, “the FBI has linked at least 40 defendants to extremist groups or movements, including at least 16 members or associates of the neo-fascist Proud Boys and at least five connected to the anti-government Oath Keepers,” according to the The Associated Press
President Joe Biden has also ordered law enforcement and intelligence officials to investigate domestic terrorism.
Schaffer, who has ties to Columbus, is of moderate fame for his heavy metal band “Iced Earth” and side projects “Demons and Wizards” and “Sons of Liberty.”
Hansi Kürsch, who started Demons and Wizards with Schaffer 20 years ago, announced on Feb. 1 that the duo is no more. Last week, Iced Earth bassist Luke Appleton and singer Stu Block both announced their departures from the band.
