Butler man who allegedly threatened president online to remain in detention while awaiting trial
PITTSBURGH — A Butler man will be held in detention as his trial moves forward after being arrested by the FBI and accused of threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump and other figures.
Shawn Monper, 32, had his preliminary and detention hearing in U.S. District Court on Monday, April 14, in front of Judge Maureen Kelly.
Monper was arrested by the FBI on April 9 in Butler Township. He faces federal charges in relation to YouTube posts that the government claims threatened the assassination of Trump, as well as Elon Musk and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, among others. The posts occurred between Jan. 15 and April 5.
Monper was officially charged in a criminal complaint Thursday, which listed four counts of influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official and federal law enforcement officer. The charges include conspiring to murder or threaten a federal official.
Assistant U.S. attorney Brendan McKenna requested Monper’s detention to ensure the safety of the community.
FBI agent Ryan Chrobak testified the FBI’s national threats operation center received information regarding threats posted by a YouTube user called “Mr. Satan.”
Chrobak said the investigation was initiated after Google provided information to the FBI’s national threats operation center. He said Google provided account information, including a telephone number, addresses and IP addresses.
The investigation that followed linked the IP address to Monper’s home.
In the hearing, Chrobak identified screenshots and videos from the YouTube account, taken as part of the investigation, showing some of the threats made.
Monper’s attorney, public defender Katherine Dyer, argued that Monper’s comments should not be treated as “true threats.” She said he made a handful of comments out of thousands posted on other YouTube pages, had never attempted to directly contact anyone at the White House and had no true intention of traveling anywhere to carry out any threats.
At the time of the arrest, FBI agents seized three handguns held by Monper.
While he legally had a permit for the firearms, the prosecution argued there was a pattern of Monper making threats around the time Trump was inaugurated, which matched the approximate time in which he bought the firearms.
They argued that pattern meant he met the standard of an individual making true threats and should be detained.
One of the exhibits submitted by McKenna was a map showing 14 pins indicating schools that are within a 5-mile radius of Monper’s home, he used to emphasize the potential risk the government claims he could pose to the community.
Dyer, argued the government’s evidence did not meet the threshold for probable cause. She also argued that Monper was not a flight risk. She noted he lives with his parents and helps them financially, and rarely goes anywhere but work.
The defense called Monper’s mother, Pamela, to the stand as their sole witness.
Pamela Monper said her son has helped both his parents over the years, contributing financially to their rent while they have undergone several health scares.
Dyer argued for house arrest as an alternative to confinement.
In closing arguments, McKenna said the government could not envision any conditions where it would be comfortable letting Monper out of custody.
“At a certain point, common sense has to prevail. We have to sit down and say, ‘here is somebody, who, eight days after the inauguration of President Trump, obtained a concealed carry permit, and then purchased a number of firearms in a short amount of time, while promising that he was going to assassinate him, his support for school shootings, and killing teachers,” McKenna said. “This is clearly someone who presents a danger to the community.”
Dyer emphasized during closing arguments that Monper has no criminal record and can legally purchase a gun. She expressed concern the government’s argument walks a very delicate line “between speech, Second Amendment rights and a presumption of innocence.”
“In this country, we are founded on a principle that we are not going to lock somebody up simply because we are afraid of what they are going to do,” Dyer said.
Kelly ultimately granted the government’s request to hold Monper in detention.
