Posted: Might 6, 2020 / 07:57 AM CDT
/ Up to date: Might 6, 2020 / 07:57 AM CDT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have charged a Kentucky man who had a stockpile of weapons at his house with threatening Kentucky’s governor and state police on social media.

The person, 25-year-old Jeremiah Wooley, apparently made the threats in reference to a social media put up about state troopers going to a Kentucky church to implement social distancing, in accordance with courtroom paperwork filed within the federal case.

State police arrested Wooley at his house in Kevil final week and charged him with making threats in opposition to the governor and state police beneath a false title. The U.S. Legal professional’s workplace in Louisville introduced these fees and a federal firearms cost in opposition to Wooley on Tuesday.

Investigators discovered a couple of dozen firearms at Wooley’s house, together with what federal brokers described as “assault-style rifles,” a .50-caliber rifle and a bucket of 50 hand grenades that had been both inert or had been made as novelty gadgets. Police mentioned the home additionally had elements to assemble the grenades, together with black powder.

Federal courtroom information mentioned Wooley made the social media posts in mid-April. In line with an affidavit by an agent from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Wooley was responding to a YouTube video posted on Fb about state police visiting a Kentucky church to implement social distancing practices. Beshear has banned mass gatherings, together with in-person church providers within the state, although that ban is being lifted later this month.

An individual who recognized himself as “Nick Pattern” replied to the put up with threats in opposition to Beshear and state police, saying “I might shoot them … of their face,” in accordance with courtroom data. Later, the identical individual wrote, “Anyone take into consideration perhaps going and visiting the governor at his home.”

Investigators traced the Fb account by means of an IP deal with to Wooley’s house in Kevil. State police arrested him there on April 29 on a cost of terroristic threatening. He had two handguns on him on the time of the arrest. Wooley was listed as being held in McCracken County Jail on Tuesday, in accordance with on-line data.

The U.S. Legal professional’s workplace in Louisville mentioned Wooley can also be going through a federal cost of possessing an unregistered firearm, which carries a most 10-year sentence.