Man accused of plotting to kill Missoula abortion doctor plans mental disorder defense

An Anaconda man charged with plotting to shoot and kill a Missoula abortion doctor plans to argue a defense hinging on his mental health and contend he was unable to appreciate the criminality of his actions, according to court filings.

Charles Felix Jones, 20, was charged March 16 with two counts of felony assault with a weapon, one count of felony intimidation and one count of misdemeanor trespassing for allegedly breaking into the doctor's backyard with a firearm and later throwing the gun into his back window.

Jones pleaded not guilty to all charges on March 16 before Missoula County District Court Judge Jason Marks.

According to the omnibus memorandum filed on Monday, Jones' defense plans to mount an affirmative defense of mental disease or disorder, meaning they plan to argue Jones was unable to appreciate the criminal nature of his behavior or conform his behavior to the law.

Charging documents state Jones told detectives "I'm completely incompetent" and "this is all delusional," and had described himself as "crazy" to the doctor when confronted. He told detectives he was diagnosed with "autistic psychosis" and had been obsessing over anti-abortion ideology for years.

According to documents, on March 8, Jones was in Missoula to take part in a pro-life protest outside of Blue Mountain Clinic and planned to return to Anaconda the next day.

Documents state Jones told detectives he had identified the Montana abortion doctor's address through research online and visited the house multiple times that evening. He entered the backyard that night at around 8 p.m. Jones allegedly watched the doctor and his wife for some time before walking onto the back porch and peering through the glass door, then knocking on the window. He then dropped his gun and some other items of property on the porch. Jones said that the doctor then picked up the gun and told Jones to stay away.

Jones fled the scene and turned himself in to the Anaconda Police Department the following day.

According to charging documents, Jones stated to detectives that he targeted the doctor for providing abortions. The filings say Jones was inspired by Luigi Mangione, who is currently charged with killing United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson. Though Jones disagreed with Mangione's politics, documents state, he "wanted people to get more passionate, especially after the Luigi Mangione incident."

Jones told detectives he had bullets in his apartment with writing on them like "my bullet, my choice" and "mifepristone," which he described as a mockery of Mangione. Following the murder of Thompson, bullets and casings were found on the scene with the words "deny, defend, depose" etched on them, which police believe belonged to Mangione.

According to documents, Jones also admitted to firing a gun at a Planned Parenthood in Helena in October 2023 when he was 17, an incident which had previously gone unsolved. This occurred when the office was closed and no injuries were reported. No arrests were made at the time, and no charges have been filed against him in relation to this incident.

In Missoula, Blue Mountain Clinic was bombed in 1994 by an anti-abortion activist who targeted other abortion providers in Idaho and Washington.

"We are here for you, our doors remain open, and we are not going anywhere," Blue Mountain Clinic said in a statement following Jones' arrest denouncing his actions. "This heartbreaking example reminds us of how misinformation and divisive rhetoric can deepen divisions and put people at risk."

Documents state Jones said he had made other plans to commit anti-abortion violence. Jones said he had plotted to bomb a Whitefish abortion clinic in 2024 and to kill the CEO of Planned Parenthood.

According to documents, Jones stated he saw himself as a "pro-life martyr" and that "he has struggled to find success in other areas of his life."

Jones is currently being held in the Missoula County jail on a $5 million bond. Prosecutors requested a high bond in because Jones "has planned and taken concrete steps to implement multiple homicidal/terroristic acts," according to charging documents.

A final pre-trial hearing is set for Aug. 18 at 9 a.m. and a five-day jury trial is tentatively set for Sept. 23, according to the Missoula County Attorney's Office.

If convicted, Jones faces up to 60 years in prison and a $150,000 fine.

Abortion is legal in Montana even following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the right to abortion access in 2022. In fall 2024, a constitutional amendment enshrining the right to abortion in Montana's state Constitution was passed by Montana voters.