A retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who is facing multiple charges related to his alleged participation in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 is reportedly refusing to leave his jail cell and attend his virtual court hearing, according to NBC4's Scott MacFarlane.
Jeffrey McKellop, of Virginia, was charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly weapon, and violent entry. Prosecutors allege that McKellop used a flagpole to attack and injure officers during the riot.
MacFarlane tweeted this Monday that McKellop refused to leave his jail cell and "is not showing at his virtual hearing in DC court."
ALERT: This US Capitol riot defendant *refuses to leave his jail cell* and is not showing at his virtual hearing in DC court. His defense lawyer just notified court... they are going to *waive* his appearance. \n\nStandby for more.....https://twitter.com/MacFarlaneNews/status/1404246207891836932\u00a0\u2026— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1623683656
In a subsequent tweet, MacFarlane reported that the court will move forward with the hearing without McKellop in order to discuss evidence related to his case.
Gotta imagine it could get tricky for the US Justice Dept to negotiate a plea with a Jan 6 defendant who refused to leave his jail to even attend a routine status hearing in his case today.— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1623684224
