Steven M Fitch, Molotov Cocktail Possession, NE 2020

United States Attorney Joe Kelly dropped a heavy charge on May 31, 2020, when he announced the Indictment of Steven M. Fitch, a 25-year-old from Council Bluffs, Iowa. The crime: being in unlawful possession of a destructive device, a Molotov Cocktail, during recent protests in Omaha, Nebraska.

Fitch now stands charged in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, where he could face up to 10 years behind bars, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. This is no mere slap on the wrist; Fitch is looking at a life-altering sentence.

The Molotov Cocktail in question was not registered to Fitch in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, making it an illegal possession under federal law. His arrest came on May 31, 2020, amidst the turmoil of downtown Omaha.

Fitch made his first appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson on August 26, 2020, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge Nelson wasted no time in ordering Fitch detained until trial, a stark reminder of the severity of the allegations against him.

This case is being taken seriously by law enforcement. The Omaha Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are all actively involved in the investigation, leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice.

As the gritty details of this case unfold, one thing remains clear: Steven M. Fitch is facing some of the harshest penalties imaginable for his alleged actions during the recent Omaha protests. The grim reality of his situation is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by destructive devices in public unrest.