CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A harrowing encounter with the law turned deadly when Joshua Wills, 31, from Bremerton, Washington, faced justice for assaulting two United States Secret Service agents, according to a statement by U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart.
“One sure fire way not to see the President of the United States is to brandish a weapon and threaten the safety of local and federal officials,” said Stuart. “Assaults on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated.” The Secret Service and the St. Albans Police Department were credited with thwarting Wills’ intentions before he could escalate his violent actions further.
Wills, charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers, had plans to travel from Washington State to Washington, D.C., intending to meet with the President of the United States while in possession of a dangerous weapon. His plans were thwarted when two Secret Service agents and officers from the St. Albans Police Department approached him for questioning at a campground in St. Albans.
According to the prosecution, Wills became agitated by the law enforcement presence, leading to a 20-minute standoff during which he unsheathed a three-foot long Katana sword as a show of force. After further resistance, Wills was subdued by a non-lethal beanbag gun and taken into custody without incident.
The defendant now faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on November 9, 2020. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the St. Albans Police Department, with Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., presiding over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Tessman is handling the prosecution.
A copy of this press release can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information are available on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:18-cr-00289.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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