PHOENIX — A man accused of shooting at the Democratic campaign office in Tempe three times and hanging bags of white powder labeled "biohazard" from homemade, anti-democratic signs is now facing more charges.
State prosecutors argued for an increased bail amount and additional charges, three counts of making false terrorism reports, for Jeffrey Kelly, 60, at a Wednesday evening court hearing.
"It's the state's belief that Mr. Kelly poses the most extreme danger within a democracy and within our community. Trying to disrupt political activity, aiming violence at a political party is completely, completely out of bounds," the prosecutor told the judge.
During Kelly's initial appearance before a judge, prosecutors claimed investigators had reportedly found more than 120 guns, 250,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor, a grenade launcher and a machine in the suspect's possession.
"This person was preparing to commit an act of mass casualty," the prosecutor said during the first court hearing.
Kelly's attorney denied Kelly had a grenade launcher or machine gun and said he was not a flight risk.
"He has a semi-automatic AR-15 that he had recently picked up from a friend, reported to the court and the media as a machine gun, is categorically denied by us," Kelly's attorney said. "This is a semi-automatic firearm. The most famous firearm ever produced, an AR-15. He's owned property (in Arizona) for 35 years. He's a retired aerospace engineer. He had a top-secret clearance. I'm asking for the extreme opposite. I'm asking for a nominal bond.
"None of the firearms described have been ever described as illegal because you can legally possess machine guns with the highest state security clearance, like a top-secret, you can possess these items lawfully."
The judge agreed with the prosecution.
"I am going to follow the state's recommendation of $500,000. That's going to be in addition to the bond set on the other charges," the judge said.
Kelly's bail is now set at $1 million.
Kelly accused of shooting Democratic campaign office three times, hanging anti-democratic signs with bags of white powder labeled 'biohazard,' razor blades hanging from them
Kelly is accused of shooting at a Democratic campaign office three times between Sept. 16 and Oct. 7. Officers released images of the suspect's car and community members recognized it from a 2022 political sign-stealing case.
Paul Weich, a former candidate for Arizona's 12th Legislative district, hired a private investigator after his signs kept going missing and got video of the suspect.
Phoenix police submitted charges but the case was turned down, officials said.
"We did have a case with him back in 2022. There was follow-up and enough information gathered for us to submit for charges for one count of theft, and one count of political sign tampering. Both misdemeanors. The case was turned down for prosecution by the City Prosecutor's Office," a statement from the Phoenix Police Department said.
Tempe police said that the case was critical in solving the shootings.
"Thankfully the citizens who remembered that incident saw our call for assistance and reached out to us and that was a critical piece of information that helped our investigators solve the case," Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy said.
Officers were able to start surveillance on Kelly due to the tip and were watching as he hung up the political signs with razor blades and bags of white powder taped to them.
More than 120 guns found in Kelly's home, officials say
Prosecutors claimed investigators found more than 120 guns, 250,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor, a grenade launcher and a machine gun in the suspect's possession. when his home was searched.
People living near Kelly watched as police and ATF officers searched his home on Tuesday night.
“They were ripping everything apart," Laura Scheller, a neighbor, said. “This is a sleepy little town, community right here. So yeah, you’re always surprised when there’s something that kind of violent going on.”
Kelly's next court date is Oct. 29.