DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Levittown man accused of killing and beheading his father, then holding up the head in a YouTube video last year, went on trial for murder Monday in Doylestown.
Justin Mohn, 33, is accused of shooting his father in a bathroom of their Upper Orchard Drive home in Levittown, cutting off his head, and holding it up in a 14-minute video he posted on YouTube to mobilize his militia.
“This is the head of Mike Mohn, a federal employee of over 20 years, and my father,” Mohn said in the video.
Mohn called on members of his militia to rise up, claiming he was now the “president of America” while offering bounties for a list of federal officials.
On cross-examination, detectives say there is no evidence Mohn had any followers, had the money to pay the bounties he’d offered, or any weapons other than a handgun he’d bought the day before the murder.
Following his preliminary hearing, Mohn admitted to reporters he killed his father, but maintained his innocence.
“He was a federal employee and betrayed me. I was trying to perform a citizen’s arrest. He resisted that citizen’s arrest. It was lawful to use deadly force in that event,” he said.
Prosecutors said Mohn’s father was in the bathroom, unarmed and defenseless, when he was shot.
Mohn’s mother testified about coming home from work to what prosecutors described as “a scene straight out of a horror movie.”
She described her husband of nearly 40 years as a loving and involved father who only wanted the best for his children, including Justin.
Mohn was ruled mentally competent to stand trial. The first defense attorney assigned to the case tried to argue Mohn was not competent, but Mohn fought those efforts, repeatedly shaking his head during his lawyer’s arguments, and eventually firing that lawyer.
Mohn was taken into custody on the Army National Guard base in Fort Indiantown Gap, where he said he was trying to rally support to overthrow the federal government.
In addition to murder, Mohn is also charged with terrorism, robbery and theft.
While in jail awaiting trial, Mohn has sent letters to Gov. Josh Shapiro, Joe Rogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.