CHESTERTON, Ind. — A defense attorney revealed in court on Monday that federal prosecutors are accusing a local man of making a threatening statement regarding the U.S. Naval Academy, linking the incident to the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Jackson Fleming, 22, faces a charge of transmitting a threat through interstate communication, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five years in federal prison. His upcoming hearing on Thursday is expected to finalize the terms of his potential release.
During a detention hearing, defense attorney Jonathan Bedi articulated that Fleming’s actions were not driven by personal animosity towards the Naval Academy but were a reaction to Kirk’s death, which occurred on September 10 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. Bedi emphasized that the allegations stemmed from a singular chat on one specific day.
Further details regarding the content of Fleming’s communication remain unclear, as the related affidavit is sealed. However, it was noted that the posts initiated a lockdown at the Naval Academy on September 11. During this incident, a midshipman and a police officer exchanged gunfire, resulting in injuries to both.
Prosecutors allege that Fleming used an anonymous messaging application called Yodel to convey the threat and altered his location settings to appear as if he were near Annapolis. Although he reportedly deleted the app the following day, the FBI uncovered notifications linked to the account dating back to September 11.
A spokesperson for the Naval Academy confirmed that Fleming was a midshipman from June 2021 until January 2024, but he had been expelled due to drug-related offenses. Reports surfaced that he had been found with substances including mushrooms and anabolic steroids, and he attempted to use fake urine to evade a drug test.
In court, Fleming’s parents testified that they are committed to adhering to any restrictions imposed by the court, including limiting his online access. They also pledged to alert authorities should he violate any laws.
Bedi argued that Fleming has a promising future and noted his clean legal record prior to this matter. Recently, he graduated from Purdue University, showcasing his resilience after being expelled.
Magistrate Judge Abizer Zanzi indicated that potential release conditions may include mental health treatment, restrictions on internet access, and home confinement. Fleming, a Chesterton High School graduate, previously described a desire to serve his country through military academy enrollment in interviews with local media.
The chaos surrounding the lockdown included an internal miscommunication at the naval institution, where a midshipman mistook police for a threat and fired upon them with a parade rifle, injuring an officer. The situation escalated, leading to police returning fire, resulting in injuries.
After several hours, the Navy released a statement confirming that the lockdown was lifted and there was no active shooter threat. One injury was serious enough to require airlifting, but the individual was reported in stable condition.
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