MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A man accused of stealing a cache of firearms from a Wisconsin gun shop and sending a rambling anti-government manifesto to the White House before going on the run was convicted Tuesday on federal weapons charges.
Jurors in U.S. District Court in Madison deliberated about two hours before convicting Joseph Jakubowski on two charges stemming from the April 4 theft, which set off a 10-day manhunt that kept authorities on edge.
Jakubowski, 33, of Janesville, confessed Monday from the witness stand to taking the guns, magazines and bullets from Armageddon Supplies before heading northwest.
Jakubowski was discovered camping by a landowner in rural western Wisconsin, some 130 miles (210 kilometers) away. Five guns and a silencer were found in his tent and federal agents testified they matched the weapons taken from Armageddon Supplies.
Defense attorney Joseph Bugni attempted to convince jurors that although Jakubowski admitted robbing the gun store, technically the charge against him was flawed because it stated firearms had been stolen from a licensed dealer, though the store owner had a manufacturer’s license.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Rumbelow said Bugni was trying to confuse jurors with a technicality.
Jakubowski was found guilty of stealing firearms and silencers from a federally licensed firearms dealer, and being a felon in possession of those firearms and silencers, crimes carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
In May Jakubowski called Milwaukee station WTMJ-TV from jail and said his plans were to go to North Dakota “to get off the grid, to go into the wild, to disappear.” He blamed the media for stoking public fear and said he wanted to be free “of society, the system, government, all of it. It’s all I wanted to do.”
Judge William Conley quashed any plans Jakubowski had to testify about his anti-government sentiments at his trial by granting a prosecutor’s motion to disallow any claimed “necessity” defense.
Investigators said that after Jakubowski broke into the gun shop and stole 18 guns, two silencers and ammunition and mailed the manifesto to President Donald Trump, he burned his vehicle before going on the run. Authorities said the remaining weapons may never be found.
Jakubowski was arrested without incident after retired school counselor Jeffrey Gorn found him in a remote wooded area on his property in rural Vernon County. Gorn calmly talked to him before calling authorities.
The arrest ended fears over when and where Jakubowski could possibly stage an attack.
MADSION, Wis. (AP) — A man accused of stealing an arsenal of firearms from a southern Wisconsin gun shop and sending an anti-government manifesto to President Donald Trump says he wishes that he had died in a gun battle with police.
Joseph Jakubowski said his 10 days on the run last April were the best days of his life. Jakubowski’s trial began in federal court in Madison on Monday, the same day jurors were selected.
Jakubowski, in his testimony Monday, also admitted he robbed Armageddon Supplies near Janesville April 4 and took guns, magazines and bullets.
WMTV reported testimony ended on the first day after both sides called all their respective witnesses. The jury will reconvene Tuesday morning to deliberate.
In an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal , Jakubowski said he’s proud that he was able to publicize his anger and frustration toward the government. But, he says, he would rather have died in a gun battle with officers.
“I didn’t go into it planning to die; that would be suicide,” he said. “But on the other hand, I haven’t been afraid of dying for a long time. How can you value life when you’re told what to do for your entire life?”
The 33-year-old self-proclaimed anarchist from Janesville faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted of the two federal charges against him, including stealing firearms and silencers from a federally licensed firearms dealer, and being a felon in possession of those firearms and silencers, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jakubowski had southern Wisconsin on edge after breaking into the Armageddon Gun Shop on the outskirts of Janesville. Authorities learned he had written a rambling 161-page anti-government manifesto and that he had mailed it to the president. They feared Jakubowski would target schools or government buildings, and many schools in the area canceled classes.
Jakubowski said stealing the guns was central to his plan to show how the federal law forbidding felons from owning a gun was proof the government was corrupt. “I have the right to defend myself,” he said.
A Vernon County landowner found Jakubowski camping on his property on April 13. Jakubowski had five guns and a samurai sword with him when he surrendered without incident the following day.
Jakubowski says he can’t remember a time when people didn’t call him crazy or socially awkward. But he says he has never been treated for a mental disorder or taken any medication for one.
“I’ve always prided myself on being different,” he said.
