Nicholas Rovinski, a Warwick native, faces charges of conspiracy to support acts of terrorism, including conspiring to help the Islamic State. Rovinski was allegedly involved in a plot to kill conservative blogger Pamela Gellar in 2015.

Rovinski was 24-years-old when he arrested  and charged by federal authorities in April. 

Gellar angered many Muslims by organizing a cartoon contest to lampoon the Muslim prophet Muhammad. Depictions of Muhammad are considered extremely disrespectful by members of the Islamic faith. 

According to authorities, Rovinski and two other men plotted to behead Gellar, a plot which was never carried out. One of his alleged co-conspirators, Usaahmah Abdullah Rahim, was shot dead by authorities during an incident in Boston, days before Rovinski’s arrest.

Rovisnki has now decided to plead guilty and was expected to change his plea Thurdsay in a Boston courtroom. In a statement, his lawyer William Fick says Rovinski “fell deep into a rabbit hole of extremist ideology.” He also stated that Rovinski has renounced any ties to the Islamic State.

Reporter John Bender was the general assignment reporter for The Public's Radio for several years. He is now a fill-in host when our regular hosts are out.