Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer is no longer being held at Indiana’s Marion County Jail.
On Monday (15), Marion County Jail staff told The Republic that Schaffer was transferred from their vicinity that morning. They did not say where he was brought to, though Indianapolis FBI Special Agent Steve Secor had confirmed that he was still in Indiana that morning.
News of the transfer comes less than a week after Shaffer’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the charges against their client. Citing the Speedy Trial Act, which outlines the amounts of time different stages of a federal criminal investigation can take, they claim that charges were filed after the 30-day limit for the government to file an information or an indictment and should therefore be dismissed.
The guitarist is facing six charges in Washington, D.C., including:
“1) Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority
2) Disrupting the Orderly Conduct of Government Business
3) Knowingly Engages in an Act of Physical Violence Against any Person or Property in any Restricted Building or Grounds
4) Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
5) Engage in an Act of Physical Violence in a Capitol Building
6) Parade, Demonstrate, or Picket in a Capitol Building”
Schaffer has been in custody since turning himself in to Indiana police on January 17 for his role in the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Photos from the incident placed him at the scene wearing a blue hoodie and tactical vest with a baseball cap reading “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member.” He was allegedly caught using bear spray on police officers. On February 15, new footage used in former President Trump’s second impeachment trial was brought to light featuring a man that looked like Schaffer near the front lines yelling at police.
Two days after his arrest, Schaffer waived his rights to a preliminary hearing, an identity hearing and production of a warrant. Government officials also asked the court not to offer Schaffer bail. However, he is entitled to a hearing on the issue of pretrial detention when he stands trial in Washington, D.C.
Following his arrest, Schaffer’s music career has understandably suffered. Both Iced Earth and side project Demons & Wizards were dropped from Century Media’s roster. Iced Earth bandmates Stu Block and Luke Appleton, who both condemned the actions of January 6, parted ways with the band in February. Demons & Wizards collaborator Hansi Kürsch also condemned the event and broke up the partnership.
Schaffer will ultimately be extradited to Washington, D.C. to stand trial. No word yet on when that will happen.
