In a soft-spoken, determined voice, 25-year-old Nicholas Rovinski of Warwick, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty Thursday to two federal conspiracy charges of plotting to carry out ISIS-inspired attacks.
Rovinski agreed with the government's assertion that he worked with two other men to come up with plans to behead people, including conservative blogger Pamela Geller -- and even tried to recruit people to assist in the attacks from jail.
One of those men he's accused of working with, Usaamah Rahim of Roslindale, was killed by Boston police last June after lunging at them with a machete.
The other man, Rahim's nephew David Wright, faces similar terrorism charges.
Thursday in court, Rovinski told the judge he was changing his plea to guilty because - quote - "I feel for myself and the people of the United States that I should pay for the crimes that I have committed."
Rovinski's attorney William Fick said outside court his client has disavowed any sympathy he may have had for ISIS.
"Nicholas Rovinski is a vulnerable young man who was seduced by extremist ideology. It's important to note, he never actually hurt anybody, he never came close to carrying out the outlandish plans that were discussed but he has accepted personal responsibility for the conspiracy crimes that are charged here and he will face harsh penalties for that," Fick said.
Rovinski faces 15-22 years in prison when he is sentenced March 23, 2017. He could have faced life in prison if convicted.
David Wright is scheduled to go to trial Feb. 6, 2017.
