Warwick man to plead guilty for plot to behead blogger for IS group

By: The Associated Press/News Staff

news@abc6.com

BOSTON, M.A. — A Rhode Island man charged with conspiring to help the Islamic State group has decided to plead guilty to charges he plotted with others to kill conservative blogger Pamela Geller.

Nicholas Rovinski is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries.

Prosecutors say the Warwick man plotted with two Massachusetts men to behead Geller. She angered Muslims when she organized a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in 2015. The plot wasn’t carried out.

A document filed in court Tuesday says a change-of-plea hearing for Rovinski is scheduled for Thursday

Rovinski’s attorney, William Fick, of Fick & Marx LLP, issued a statement Tuesday saying “Nicholas Rovinksi is a vulnerable young man who fell deep into a rabbit hole of extremist ideology.  Although he never hurt anyone, Nicholas is prepared to accept personal responsibility for the conspiracy crimes charged and to face the grave penalties that will follow.  Nicholas has unequivocally renounced violence and disavowed any sympathy for ISIL.  Nicholas hopes he will have opportunities in the future to help others reject twisted ideas and avoid making the same mistakes he did.”

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