MONTEVIDEO - When Buford “Bucky” Rogers was arrested Friday in Montevideo on a weapons charge and linked with plans for domestic terrorism, it was not his first brush with the law.
The arrest Friday involved local and federal officials, but according to police reports, local authorities had known for about two years that Rogers was involved with “militia-type activities.”
According to a court file from Lac qui Parle County District Court in Madison, Rogers, now 24, was convicted of a felony charge of burglary in the third degree for his involvement in the April 2011 theft of guns and tools from a Dawson garage and a laptop computer from a truck parked outside.
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Rogers family say son was not planning domestic terrorism
According to the police report from that incident, Rogers and two other individuals entered the garage and truck and took the tools, rifles and computer.
After a search warrant was executed and police arrested one of the individuals in that incident, David John Picard, Rogers reportedly fled Minnesota for a short time, returning about a month later.
That report says that “on information and belief,” Rogers “is involved in militia-type activities.”
As part of his sentencing in that case, Rogers was ordered to pay fines and restitution. A note on his court file indicates that the case was turned over to a collections department earlier this year.
As a convicted felon, he is not allowed to possess firearms.
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During the search Friday of Rogers’ family home, a Romanian AKM assault rifle was found.
In an interview with authorities, Rogers admitted firing the weapon on two separate occasions at a gun range in Granite Falls, according to an FBI affidavit. Authorities also found Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs.
The initial charge filed against Rogers on Monday when he appeared in federal court was for knowingly and unlawfully possessing a firearm when he was not allowed to do so because of the 2011 felony conviction.
News gradually emerged Monday from the FBI that authorities believe Rogers was planning some sort of domestic terrorist attack.
The investigation is ongoing, which could result in additional charges.
Rogers was also convicted in Hennepin County of a petty misdemeanor in 2009 on a charge of reckless handling or use of a dangerous weapon.
