Nevada Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Stolen Truck, Weapons and Homemade Explosives

A 22-year-old man who was arrested in July 2013 by University of Washington Police in a stolen truck with stolen firearms, body armor and gasoline incendiary devices, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison and three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  JUSTIN MILES JASPER pleaded guilty to transportation of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of destructive devices in November 2013.  A key provision of the sentence requires JASPER to participate in mental health counseling.  At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said the investigation revealed JASPER had “no specific plan,” but noted that possession of the weapons and explosives was both alarming and dangerous for the public, law enforcement and the defendant.

JASPER was arrested on July 3, 2013 near the UW campus in Seattle.  He was driving a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 pick-up truck with Montana plates.  The truck had been reported stolen by the owner in Butte, Montana.  Inside the truck police found a Stevens Model 311A double-barrel 12-gauge shotgun, with no serial number, and a Mauser Model 1895 bolt-action rifle.  Both guns had been stolen from the same owner as the truck.  According to the plea agreement, the truck also contained six destructive devices commonly referred to as “Molotov cocktails.”

According to records filed in the case, the investigation never uncovered any plan by JASPER to use the weapons or explosives.  Both sides recommended that Judge Martinez require mental health counseling while JASPER is on supervised release and will recommend the Bureau of Prisons place JASPER at a facility with mental health treatment while he is incarcerated.

At the close of the sentencing hearing Judge Martinez noted that law enforcement had carefully investigated JASPER’s conduct, and said the investigation led to a better outcome.  Judge Martinez said, “I commend everybody’s effort on this case.”

The case was investigated by the FBI, the UW Police Department, and the Seattle Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.