Related To Story |
Teen Pleads Guilty To Terrorism Charge
Teen Reported Missing By Parents On Tuesday
POSTED: 6:53 pm CST January 24,
2008
UPDATED: 7:12 pm CST January 25,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A teen accused of plotting to hijack a plane from Los Angeles to Nashville pleaded guilty on Friday to a state terrorism charge.
Video: Teen, 16, Pleads Guilty To State Terrorism ChargeThe 16-year-old boy, who has not been identified by authorities, was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday night at Nashville International Airport and was held at a juvenile detention facility.FBI spokesman George Bolds told The Associated Press the teen had handcuffs, rope and duct tape in his bag, and was believed to be traveling alone.According to sources of Channel 4 I-Team reporter Jeremy Finley, the teen intended to fly from Nashville to New Orleans, board a plane bound for Los Angeles and crash it into the Cajun Dome at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.The sources said the teen planned to wrap a water bottle in the string to make it look like a bomb and planned to use the handcuffs and duct tape to restrain the crew.But none of that happened because once he cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet, his family knew something was wrong and filed a missing persons report in Novato, Calif. on Tuesday. He was captured in flight without incident and pleaded guilty in court to a state charge of attempting an act of terrorism."Investigation revealed the missing subject may have been attempting to purchase airline or bus tickets," said Novato police representative Jay Demski.The teen, who authorities believed was suicidal, was calm during the flight and made no apparent attempt to commandeer the plane, Bolds said. He could not comment further on the teen's mental condition because he is a minor.Prosecutors said a poster of a cockpit was found inside the teen's California home.Juvenile Court Administrator Tim Adgent said the case was initially scheduled for Thursday, but had to be delayed to get personal history from the teen's family and appoint a public defender to the case. A message left with the juvenile public defender's office was not immediately returned."The paramount issue is the safety of the community" in deciding whether to release him, Adgent said.He is currently facing only state charges. Nashville District Attorney General spokeswoman Susan Niland would not release the nature of the charges because the suspect is a minor.The FBI dismissed broadcast reports Thursday night that the teen was planning to crash the plane into a "Hannah Montana" concert in Lafayette, La.The teenager will be sent back to California, where he will be sentenced for the terrorism charge he pleaded guilty to on Friday. Nothing the teenager had with him is prohibited from being carried onto planes. District Attorney Jon Seaborg described the teen as "very polite, very pleasant."
Most Popular Stories On WSMV.com
Video: Teen, 16, Pleads Guilty To State Terrorism ChargeThe 16-year-old boy, who has not been identified by authorities, was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday night at Nashville International Airport and was held at a juvenile detention facility.FBI spokesman George Bolds told The Associated Press the teen had handcuffs, rope and duct tape in his bag, and was believed to be traveling alone.According to sources of Channel 4 I-Team reporter Jeremy Finley, the teen intended to fly from Nashville to New Orleans, board a plane bound for Los Angeles and crash it into the Cajun Dome at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.The sources said the teen planned to wrap a water bottle in the string to make it look like a bomb and planned to use the handcuffs and duct tape to restrain the crew.But none of that happened because once he cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet, his family knew something was wrong and filed a missing persons report in Novato, Calif. on Tuesday. He was captured in flight without incident and pleaded guilty in court to a state charge of attempting an act of terrorism."Investigation revealed the missing subject may have been attempting to purchase airline or bus tickets," said Novato police representative Jay Demski.The teen, who authorities believed was suicidal, was calm during the flight and made no apparent attempt to commandeer the plane, Bolds said. He could not comment further on the teen's mental condition because he is a minor.Prosecutors said a poster of a cockpit was found inside the teen's California home.Juvenile Court Administrator Tim Adgent said the case was initially scheduled for Thursday, but had to be delayed to get personal history from the teen's family and appoint a public defender to the case. A message left with the juvenile public defender's office was not immediately returned."The paramount issue is the safety of the community" in deciding whether to release him, Adgent said.He is currently facing only state charges. Nashville District Attorney General spokeswoman Susan Niland would not release the nature of the charges because the suspect is a minor.The FBI dismissed broadcast reports Thursday night that the teen was planning to crash the plane into a "Hannah Montana" concert in Lafayette, La.The teenager will be sent back to California, where he will be sentenced for the terrorism charge he pleaded guilty to on Friday. Nothing the teenager had with him is prohibited from being carried onto planes. District Attorney Jon Seaborg described the teen as "very polite, very pleasant."Most Popular Stories On WSMV.com
- Child, 8, Finds Mom Shot To Death
- Mom: Kids' Game Encouraged Touching, Bathing Together
- Company To Refund $272M In Diamond Lawsuit
- Former Pastor Charged With Sexual Crime
- Slideshow: Top Attractions That Aren’t So Attractive
- Slideshow: Middle Tennessee’s Cute Pets Volume 44
- Slideshow: Middle Tennessee’s Cute Pets Volume 39
Copyright 2008 by WSMV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
