United State of America v. Kadin Hawkeye Lewis

Billings, Montana, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession of unregistered destructive devices.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Kadin Hawkeye Lewis, 24, in 2022, lived in a trailer in Pray, an unincorporated community in Park County, Montana.

Officers obtained a search warrant for the trailer and inside found eight Molotov cocktails stored in a cabinet, each bottle assembled with fuel and wicks. Elsewhere in the trailer, officers found dozens of empty bottles and rags that could be used to assemble more Molotov cocktails, as well as several journals and other writings belonging to Lewis. On the walls, officers observed violent extremist and racially motivated drawings and writing.

In some of his journals, Lewis detailed his admiration of mass shooters and fantasized about using Molotov cocktails as destructive devices to attack Chico Hot Springs, a nearby resort. He wrote about using the Molotov cocktails and firearms to build up a “kill count” as high as possible, aiming for between “17 and 30 casualties.” He also identified other hot spring resorts throughout Montana by name and location and wrote that it was his hope his attack would inspire others.

The Molotov cocktail evidence from the trailer was collected and submitted to the FBI Laboratory. Explosives experts there determined the material inside the bottles was an ignitable liquid that, when lit, would function as an improvised incendiary device, commonly known as homemade firebombs or Molotov cocktails. A search of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record found Lewis had never applied for or received permission to possess a destructive device.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes prosecuted the case. The FBI and Park County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

The Defendant elected to plead guilty.