Justin Mohn's Fate Rests With Judge After Closing Arguments

A screen capture from the Justin Mohn YouTube page.

Attorneys in the case of Justin Mohn delivered their closing arguments Thursday before Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Stephen Corr.

After days of testimony and gruesome crime scene images, the two sides painted different pictures of the defendant’s actions and state of mind in the case for the 33-year-old man charged with killing and beheading his father at the family’s home in Middletown Township’s Levittown section in January 2024.

Defense attorney Steven Jones described it as a “unique case” filled with sadness.

While delivering his closing, Jones acknowledged Mohn did “unspeakable things” to his father, Michael Mohn, 68.

While conceding Mohn was guilty of abuse of a corpse, Jones argued a murder charge was not appropriate. He also contended that a charge of robbery related to Michael Mohn’s vehicle being taken by Justin Mohn without permission was more likely unlawful use of a vehicle.

Jones pointed to Mohn’s competency and highlighted his client’s extensive vocabulary and active involvement in his own defense strategy.

The defense attorney leaned into Mohn’s testimony that he was attempting a “lawful citizen’s arrest” of his father on accusations of treason and stated the law allows for citizen’s arrests.

Mohn’s writings found on his devices were described by Jones as “shit” — a term Mohn himself allegedly used in file names — and he dismissed Mohn’s self-described militia as “garbage” that gained no traction.

Bucks County First Assistant District Attorney Ed Louka countered and asserted that Mohn’s “warped beliefs” led to the homicide and subsequent beheading.

Louka said there was an “overwhelming amount of evidence” against Mohn, including a detailed “to-do list,” DNA evidence, and the long sequence of events leading up to the killing. He stated that Mohn was “proud of his actions and remorseless.”

The case has involved more than 200 pieces of evidence and 15 witnesses taking the stand, including testimony from Justin Mohn.

Louka alleged that Mohn “preyed” on his parents’ concern and compassion for him and then killed his father.

Mohn’s consistent hatred for the federal government was highlighted, with Louka noting Michael Mohn was a federal government retiree and contractor.

The veteran prosecutor argued that Mohn’s plan was always to kill his father, and the “citizen’s arrest” narrative was a post-arrest fabrication.

“He wanted to be a terrorist and he turned out to be one,” Louka said.

The idea of a lawful citizen’s arrest as “nonsense” and pointed out that Michael Mohn was ambushed by his son while in a vulnerable state, which was finishing in the bathroom, Louka said.

The prosecutor pointed to jailhouse letters Mohn wrote after his arrest, which he said amounted to admissions of the crimes.

“It was no citizen’s arrest,” Louka sternly said. “It was an execution.”

Mohn’s sister, brother, mother, and other family members were in court throughout the week. Denice Mohn, the defendant’s mother and victim’s wife, testified on Monday.

After court, Jones said the defense “saved Justin’s life” because prosecutors have taken the death penalty off the table in the case.

Answering a reporter’s question, Jones said Mohn didn’t wish to pursue a mental health defense and was competent for trial.

Louka told reporters after court that Mohn appeared competent throughout the trial.

“The evidence, which is what we have to look at, shows he planned stage-by-stage of this. Rarely do we see this much premeditation evidence. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a case in 18 years where a murder wrote out a to-do list,” he said.

The bench trial concluded with closing arguments, and Corr will issue a verdict Friday morning at the Bucks County Justice Center.

Stories from the past days at trial:

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