An initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison Friday for Joseph Jakubowski has determined he'll remain in federal custody. He has returned to the Rock County jail to await further court action.
At brief hearing before presiding judge Stephen L. Crocker, acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Anderson presented the sealed indictment against the 32-year-old defendant. However, the charges are only for the complaints of reportedly stealing firearms and silencers from Armageddon Supplies, a federally-licensed firearm dealer, in Janesville April 4th.
They will be formally presented in private at a grand jury hearing on April 19th in federal court in Madison. Anderson tells Channel 27 News that because the investigation is on-going, it's possible that other charges may also be brought against Jakubowski at that time.
Public Defender Joe Bugni is representing the defendant, who was led into district court about 3:30 Friday afternoon with shackles on his feet, but not on his wrists. Bugni asked the court to set an arraignment date for April 25th on other possible state charges against Jakubowski, pending the outcome of the grand jury's findings next week. He told the judge he had been able to meet briefly with his client before Friday's hearing and that Jakubowski understands the possible charges against him.
Because he'll remain in federal custody, the U.S. government will initially bear the brunt of the expense of holding him.
Acting U.S. Attorney Anderson says other than the federal complaint, it'll be up to state officials as to what other charges will be formally brought against Jakubowski. On the federal gun charges, he faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.
The charge against him is the result of an investigation by local, state and federal authorities that began two days after he reportedly burglarized the business on U.S. Highway 14. Jakubowski is also believed to have threatened to blow up area schools and allegedly sent an anti-government manifesto to the White House.
In the affidavit presented in court today, a line item says officials interviewed Jakubowski's sister, with whom he had been staying, after officers searched a trash bag that the sister had placed on her curb. In it was a note that contained an "apology" to Armageddon Supplies. The author of the note stated, "I would have purchased the items," but couldn't because of a felony conviction.
Wisconsin Court records show Jakubowski previously was convicted of disarming a police officer, a class H felony offense.
For more information go to WKOW: http://www.wkow.com/story/35154081/2017/04/14/joseph-jakubowski-to-appear-in-federal-court-friday-afternoon