Suspect in planned Christmas attack on Pier 39 will stay in Fresno County Jail

A federal judge on Thursday afternoon said a Modesto man facing terrorism-related charges is a danger to the public and ordered he be kept in Fresno County Jail.

Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, remained silent throughout the hearing, where a judge ruled he was better kept behind bars after allegedly plotting to attack San Francisco’s Pier 39 on Christmas Day.

Jameson’s mother, father, stepfather, aunts, uncles and cousins attended the hearing but did not speak. They left the downtown Fresno federal courthouse with one family member telling media they had no comment.

Attorney Charles Lee from the Federal Defenders office argued in court that Jameson deserved to be released and that he neither posed a danger to the public nor would fail to appear at future court dates. His preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 5.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Erica Grosjean was sympathetic and noted that Jameson’s mother had offered to be a third-party custodian who would be responsible for making sure he appeared in court.

But, the judge said, statements Jameson allegedly made in connection to plotting an attack at Pier 39 were “threatening in the extreme.” She said that was enough to keep Jameson in the downtown Fresno jail, where he’s been held without bail since making his first appearance in court Dec. 22.

Grosjean said she spent “a lot of time” reviewing the details in the case. She weighed the fact that all of the accusations against Jameson were based on words and text, but that nothing was ever acted upon. She noted that there were never any weapons used in connection to what he had written on social media or stated to undercover FBI agents.

Jameson faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He allegedly spoke to an FBI informant whom he believed was an ISIS leader. In court papers, the FBI says Jameson caught the attention of law enforcement after an informant reported Jameson “liked” and “loved” pro-ISIS and pro-terrorism posts on Facebook. Jameson could face up to 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Baker said in court that Jameson “planned to conduct a mass murder” and called the degree of threat if Jameson were released “astronomical.”

Baker cited Jameson’s words and actions, including sending images of Pier 39 to a person whom Jameson believed to be connected to ISIS. Lee laughed at that, saying the San Francisco attraction is a public place and people share images of it all the time.

But Baker said investigators searching Jameson’s home found a letter he had written about his alleged interest in carrying out a violent attack that could cause harm to the “disgusting country” and vowed that “these acts will continue.” Baker argued that Jameson had expressed interest in huddling people at Pier 39 in groups in order to inflict the most harm.

Jameson sat calmly with a concerned look on his face during the hearing, gazing up at his defense attorney when Lee spoke.

The FBI says Jameson was inspired by the terrorist attack by a truck driver on Halloween in New York City, and by the San Bernardino shooting attack in 2015 that left 14 dead. Jameson allegedly told an undercover agent “I have been trained in combat and things of war.”

In 2009, Jameson attended U.S. Marine basic recruit training and obtained a sharpshooter rifle qualification before being discharged for fraudulent enlistment, according to court papers. Jameson failed to disclose a latent asthma history.

Thursday in court, Lee noted that Jameson does not have a history of violence. In fact, Lee said, Jameson has been a victim of domestic abuse carried out by his estranged spouse, Ashley M. Jameson, who is serving prison time at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla. But Jameson never retaliated, Lee said.

Judge Grosjean noted Jameson’s history of “significant depression.” The day he was arrested, he was placed on a “5150” hold (since discontinued) because law enforcement believed he could cause harm on himself. There was no further information provided in court Thursday to explain the reason for the hold.

Baker said in court that when agents interviewed Jameson, he provided clear support for terrorist groups, like ISIS. He said Jameson expressed support for Islamic law and for the “destruction of the U.S.” Baker said that when agents asked Jameson if he was sure about his interests in harming people and if there were any chances he would actually do something like that, he responded that there was a “good chance” he would.

In his client’s defense, Lee said Jameson later stated that he could not go through with anything involving violence, telling undercover informants that “I’ve reconsidered.”

This story was originally published December 28, 2017 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Suspect in planned Christmas attack on Pier 39 will stay in Fresno County Jail."