The lawyer for Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer has revealed that the veteran metal musician was threatened with his life and had feces and urine hurled at him while in jail for his role in the US Capitol riot.
In April, Schaffer became the first person involved in the January 6th insurrection to plead guilty to charges related to the riot. The two charges to which he pleaded guilty are obstruction of an official proceeding and entering a building with a dangerous weapon. He admitted to carrying bear spray into the Capitol, as he and others forced their way into the building.
As part of a plea agreement, Schaffer is said to be offering information about his militia group the Oath Keepers in exchange for a lesser sentence. Prosectors have recommended 3.5 to 4.5 years in prison, and he may be entered into the witness protection program if he fully cooperates.
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Now, the Indianapolis Star is reporting that Schaffer apparently went through “two months of hell” while in Indiana’s Marion County Jail prior to his guilty plea. The newly published article detailing a March detention hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia quotes Schaffer’s attorney Marc J. Victor as stating, “My client, who is presumed innocent, has just gone through two months of hell where other people 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.”
However, according to the same report, Schaffer was placed in “administrative segregation” while in the jail, meaning he was kept away from other inmates. A spokesperson for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office insisted that he had remained isolated during his entire stay at the jail. That said, a deputy did confirm that Schaffer was moved out of his cell block on March 7th out of “fear for his personal safety.” The musician had apparently mentioned that three inmates were making death threats against him.
Schaffer’s role in the Capitol riot shook up his longtime metal band. Singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton both publicly quit Iced Earth, while lead guitarist Jake Dreyer strongly hinted that he had exited the group, as well.
Footage of Schaffer and others storming the Capitol from a surveillance camera was shared on CNN, and can be seen below. The guitarist is the one in the blue jacket and baseball cap at the 1:13 mark.
