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Armed Man Arrested Near UW Campus; Faces Federal Charges (UPDATE)

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Justin Miles Jasper, a 22-year-old Nevada man arrested near the University of Washington (UW) campus with Molotov cocktails and stolen guns, has been federally charged with five counts, including transportation of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen firearms, possession of destructive devices, and possession of explosives, by a grand jury in Seattle.

The federal indictment has come a day after prosecutors filed state charges against him.

Jasper "Mr. Jasper will be brought into federal custody and the state charges will be dismissed," said Emily Langlie with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Jasper was arrested July 3 near the UW campus in Seattle in a 1998 Dodge Ram, he had reportedly robbed an acquaintance in Butte, Mont. According to court documents, the truck contained a stolen long rifle with a scope, a double-barreled shotgun, body armor, multiple knives, a machete, and six homemade firebombs.

The police also recovered a video in which Jasper expressed his empathy towards protesters in Brazil and wanted to do something here to support them. He also carried detailed maps to the campuses of Seattle University, the University of Washington and South Seattle Community College.

"In addition to that, he had documents indicating that he had, or felt some sympathies for protests going on in the country of Brazil as well as political turmoil in the country of Syria," said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff for the prosecutor's office. "Implying that that's why he was near these university campuses with these particular weapons."

Jasper will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Thursday. If convicted, he might face up to 20-year jail imprisonment.

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