Chapmanville man pleads not guilty in alleged UFC Freedom 250 attack plot
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A Logan County man accused in the alleged plot to attack U.S. officials during the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House pleaded not guilty last week.
Chapmanville man pleads not guilty in alleged UFC Freedom 250 attack plot
Robert Fields | WVOW News
COLUMBUS, OH According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 21-year-old Chandler D. Scaggs of Chapmanville was arrested early in July by the FBI. Investigators allege Scaggs was assigned to serve as a sniper during the planned attack and was supposed to be transported to the event by Tycen C. Proper of Danville, Ohio, who was arrested in June.
Federal prosecutors say Scaggs allegedly told other suspects he was still willing to participate after Proper's arrest if someone else could drive him to the event.
Scaggs and seven co-defendants are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government property and to murder a federal government official.
Scaggs pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday.
According to the Justice Department, the suspects allegedly planned the attack through online platforms including Signal, Discord, SimpleX, TikTok and Instagram while gathering firearms, ammunition, explosives, drones and other equipment. Prosecutors say several members of West Virginia's congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice and U.S. Representatives Carol Miller and Riley Moore, were identified as intended targets.
Trials are expected to get underway starting September 14.
PHOTO | File