NorCal pair accused of plot to blow up state Dem headquarters

SACRAMENTO — Two Bay Area men have been indicted on charges of plotting to blow up the Democratic headquarters building in Sacramento, and authorities have seized 49 weapons — including machine guns and bombs, court records say.

A federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted two men — Ian Benjamin Rogers of Napa and Jarrod Copeland, a former resident of Vallejo who recently moved to Sacramento — on charges of conspiracy to destroy a building, possession of destructive devices and machine guns and obstruction of justice.

The attack may have been thwarted when FBI and Napa County law enforcement officials searched Rogers’ home and business Jan. 15 and seized roughly 50 firearms, including at least three fully automatic weapons, five pipe bombs and thousands of rounds of ammunition, court papers say.

Court papers say several guns and the pipe bombs were found in a large gun safe.

Rogers was arrested, and told authorities that “he had built the pipe bombs, but said that they were for entertainment purposes only,” court papers say, adding that the bombs were “fully operational and could cause great bodily harm or injury if handled improperly.”

After Copeland heard of the arrest he contacted a militia group both men belonged to, the indictment says.

The Justice Department says Rogers remains in custody and has a hearing set for July 30. Copeland was arrested Wednesday at his Sacramento residence and is set for a detention hearing on Tuesday in San Francisco, court records say.