Medford Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening the President of the United States

MEDFORD, Ore. – On Monday, November 7, 2016, John Martin Roos, 62, of Medford, plead guilty in United States District Court to threatening to kill the President of the United States. In separate counts, Roos also pled guilty to threatening to shoot FBI agents and possession of an unregistered explosive device.

Roos admitted in court to using racially inflammatory language in a Twitter post in which he threatened to kill President Barack Obama. In a Facebook post, Roos threatened to “snipe” FBI agents “with hunting rifles.”

Roos was arrested last April while parking his truck outside a Veterans Administration (VA) facility in White City, Oregon. The arresting agent found a loaded semi-automatic pistol underneath the driver side floor mat. A search of Roos’ apartment uncovered more firearms and several pipe bombs.

Based on his guilty pleas, Roos faces up to ten years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2017 before United States District Court Judge Michael McShane in Medford. Roos was ordered to remain in custody pending his sentencing.

This case was investigated by the FBI, VA Police Service, Oregon State Police, and Medford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by William “Bud” Fitzgerald, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon