Eric G. King, Arson, Missouri 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eric G. King, 29, of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty in federal court today to throwing Molotov cocktails at the local congressional office of U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II.

On Sept. 11, 2014, at 2:52 a.m., a window was broken and two Molotov cocktails were thrown at Cleaver’s congressional office located at 101 W. 31st Street, Kansas City, Mo. The office was unoccupied at the time of the incident. A hammer used to break the window was recovered from the scene, as well as two broken Molotov cocktails.

Video footage shows King, wearing a large backpack, walking to the congressional office. King retrieved two Molotov cocktails from his backpack, then walked around the parking lot for a few minutes in an apparent effort to hide from cars that were passing by.

The video footage shows King throwing a hammer through the west window then lighting the two Molotov cocktails. The first Molotov cocktail bounced off the side of the building. King threw the second Molotov cocktail through the window then sprinted away from the office.

Detectives with the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department were investigating King in connection with a series of anti-government related incidents of vandalism in the immediate vicinity of the congressional office. The incidents occurred over the Labor Day weekend in 2014 and involved the spray painting of anti-government/anarchy graffiti.

King was arrested as he was leaving his apartment on Sept. 16, 2014. When officers opened the backpack King was carrying at the time, they found a can of red spray paint, Kingsford Charcoal Lighter fluid, and a clear plastic soda bottle (containing a clear liquid) with a tube sock placed over it.

King was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison without parole. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner accepted the plea and will impose the sentence on May 13, 2015. The charges against King were originally contained in an Oct. 7, 2014, federal indictment.

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