In a case that has gripped Pennsylvania, Justin D. Mohn stood trial for the grim murder of his father, Michael F. Mohn. Taking the stand in his defense, the 33-year-old described the killing as "Plan B," following an attempted citizen's arrest for what he claimed were false statements and treason, FOX 29 reported.
During over two hours of testimony, Mohn, shackled and stoic, recounted that he shot his father after a confrontation in which his father reached for the gun and threatened to kill him if he tried to arrest him. The plan, Mohn testified, was for his father to go along with a citizen's arrest. Instead, the situation escalated with fatal consequences. According to Mohn, his motive for decapitating his father and posting the video on YouTube was to send a decisive message that would reduce overall violence and compel federal government employees to acquiesce to his various demands, including their resignation and the cancellation of the public debt, PennLive detailed.
The trial has revealed Justin Mohn's disturbing online history, including anti-government rhetoric and plans for violence dating back several years. Authorities report that at the time of his arrest, following the vicious incident, Mohn was found in possession of photos of federal buildings and instructions for making explosives. Just before the killing, his parents had offered him financial assistance while he searched for employment, but the district attorney presented the murder as a deliberate act designed to frighten federal workers, rather than an outcome of domestic discord or financial stress, 6ABC recounted.
Under the scrutiny of courtroom observers, details from Mohn's trial included graphic evidence from the YouTube video, so severe, the judge offered a warning to those present before its presentation. The proceedings unfolded without a jury, classified as a bench trial, while the narrative of a man attempting to provoke revolution through horrifying means unfurled. Michael Mohn, a former engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' geoenvironmental section, was described posthumously as a good neighbor and supportive father, casting a glaring contrast to the treasonous figure his son depicted in his online rants and during the horrific events leading to his death.
