A federal grand jury has indicted Thaddeus Cheyenne Murphy, 44, of Colorado Springs, on charges related to a January explosion outside the Colorado Springs office of the NAACP. According to a statement from U.S. Attorney John F. Walsh:
Count one of the indictment alleges that on January 6, 2015, Murphy did maliciously damage and destroy, or attempt to damage or destroy, by means of fire and an explosive, a building located at 603 South El Paso Street in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and such real property is used in interstate or foreign commerce. If convicted of that count, Murphy faces not less than 5 years, and up to 20 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
Count two of the indictment alleges that on February 19, 2015, Murphy having been previously convicted of a felony offense knowingly possessed firearms. If convicted of that count, Murphy faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
While the blast drew national attention over speculation that it was a case of domestic terrorism, federal investigators say Murphytold them that "the target of his criminal actions was not the NAACP."
Murphy is scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate on Wednesday for a detention hearing and arraignment. The government will argue that the defendant is a danger to the community and should be held without bond.
