LAS VEGAS (AP) - Three men that prosecutors say have ties to an anti-government movement and tried to spark violence during recent Las Vegas protests were indicted on terrorism charges by a county grand jury Wednesday.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported the charges in the indictment are similar to a complaint filed by prosecutors earlier this month, charging 23-year-old Andrew T. Lynam Jr., 35-year-old Stephen T. Parshall and 40-year-old William L. Loomis each with two felony terrorism and two explosives charges. The grand jury indictment allows the case to go directly to trial and skip a preliminary hearing where evidence is presented.
A federal grand jury on Tuesday also indicted the three each on a federal conspiracy charge and a firearm and destructive device charge on accusations of possession of a Molotov cocktail.
Prosecutors say the men have ties to the right-wing extremist “boogaloo” movement, an internet-based network expressing support for overthrowing the U.S. government. Prosecutors say the men hoped to create civic unrest by capitalizing on protests over businesses closed due to the coronavirus and later, the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis after a white officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes.
Chief District Judge Linda Bell set a $1 million bail for the three men and “high-level electronic monitoring” if they post bail. They’re due in court again July 16.
Parshall’s lawyer Robert Draskovich called the evidence “insufficient” and said his client “is looking forward to having his day in court.”
Loomis’ lawyer Richard Wright declined to comment. A message seeking comment from Lynam’s lawyer in the county case, Ryan Helmick, was not immediately returned. His lawyer in federal court, Sylvia Irvin, argued earlier this week that investigators relied heavily on a confidential informant whose trustworthiness is unknown in order to make the allegations.
The three men were arrested May 30 by police and the FBI while allegedly preparing gasoline-and-glass-bottle firebombs on the way to a Las Vegas protest against Floyd’s death.
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