NEW BOSTON, TX (WBAP/KLIF News) – Prosecutors accused him of being a member of the far-right, anti-government ‘boogaloo’ movement who livestreamed threats to kill a police officer, and a Bowie County jury agreed.
According to the Texarkana Gazette, 38-year-old Aaron Caleb Swenson was convicted on Thursday of attempted murder of a peace officer.
During the trial, Swenson testified that he never was going to hurt anyone but wanted to be killed by police as he made threatening statements on Facebook live while driving in Texarkana in April of 2020.
Swenson told viewers he was searching for a police officer to kill.
Jurors also heard from police who handled the arrest. Texarkana Police Officer Jonathan Price testified that he was parked on a city street when he overheard Swenson say he’d “found his prey” as he turned his car around.
Jurors found Swenson guilty of violating the Texas Hate Crime Act for making those threats.
Swenson faces five to 99 years in prison on the attempted capital murder charge. A verdict on the degree of punishment is expected today.
Copyright 2021. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to his report.
