A Pennsylvania man who posted a video of his father’s severed head on YouTube has been convicted of homicide and sentenced to life imprisonment with out the potential of parole. Bucks County Choose Stephen A Corr discovered Justin D Mohn, 33, responsible of killing his father in January 2024 at their residence within the Philadelphia suburb of Levittown.
Following the sentencing, Bucks County District Lawyer Jennifer Schorn instructed reporters that Mohn had proven a “full and utter lack of regret,” describing the killing as an “unimaginable, unfathomable crime”. She mentioned: “We’re happy that this was the precise consequence to ensure that the group at giant is secure from Justin Mohn.” His defence barrister described it as an “undoubtedly troublesome case to preside over”.
“Instances involving the lack of life are all the time essentially the most troublesome, and that issue is compounded when the prosecution seeks the dying penalty. The Commonwealth initially sought the dying penalty on this case, and based mostly on the defence that was offered on behalf of Mr Mohn, my shopper won’t face that penalty,” Mohn’s solicitor, Steven M Jones, mentioned in an electronic mail. He declined to say whether or not Mohn would attraction.
Prosecutors mentioned Mohn used a newly bought pistol to shoot his father, Michael F Mohn, 68, earlier than decapitating him with a kitchen knife and machete. The grotesque 14-minute video he posted on YouTube remained dwell for a number of hours earlier than being taken down.
Throughout the trial, Mohn claimed he had tried to “arrest” his father for what he described as false statements and treason. He mentioned his father resisted, so he shot him—then severed his head to ship a message to federal staff demanding their resignation and different concessions.
In sufferer impression statements learn out in court docket, kin described Michael Mohn as a loving husband and father, a person of humility and humour who loved studying, exercising and taking part in the guitar.
Justin Mohn was arrested later the identical day after scaling a fence at Fort Indiantown Hole, the headquarters of the state’s Nationwide Guard. Prosecutors mentioned he had referred to as on others to affix him in an tried overthrow of the US authorities.
When detained, Mohn was carrying a USB stick containing images of federal buildings and what seemed to be directions for establishing explosives, authorities mentioned.
He had additionally revealed years’ price of violent anti-government rhetoric on-line. Throughout the trial, the decide heard proof from Mohn’s mom, who mentioned police had beforehand visited the household residence to warn him about his on-line exercise.
Denice Mohn testified that she and her husband had been offering their son with monetary assist and steering as he looked for work.
Ms Schorn added: “It’s unimaginable what the defendant did to his father and to his household. I do know this verdict does present some degree of justice, however it should by no means heal their wounds.”
Mohn was additionally convicted of possessing an instrument of crime, weapons offences, legal use of a communications facility, making terroristic threats, defiant trespassing and abuse of a corpse.
Prosecutors described the killing as “one thing straight out of a horror movie”, alleging Mohn murdered his father — a longtime engineer with the US Military Corps of Engineers — in a calculated try and intimidate authorities staff. They branded it a “chilly, calculated, organised plan”.
Within the YouTube video, Mohn ranted in regards to the authorities, immigration, fiscal coverage, crime, the border and the struggle in Ukraine. He additionally described his father as a “traitor” and a 20-year federal worker.
Throughout a competency listening to final 12 months, a defence professional revealed Mohn had written to Russia’s ambassador in Washington DC providing to defect, and had apologised to President Vladimir Putin for beforehand claiming to be the czar of Russia. The decide finally dominated that he was match to face trial.
Proof proven in court docket included graphic pictures and pictures from the YouTube video. The decide warned members of the general public in attendance in regards to the disturbing nature of the fabric and mentioned they had been free to depart earlier than it was proven. The case was heard as a bench trial, that means there was no jury.
