U.S. district judge delays Abdo court appearances

BY PAUL A. ROMER | TELEGRAM STAFF

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 6:00 AM

BELTON — A trial schedule that called for Pfc. Naser Jason Abdo to appear
before jurors beginning Monday was extended by U.S. District Judge Walter S.
Smith Jr.

Abdo, an AWOL soldier from Kentucky, faces federal weapons charges in
connection with a bomb plot against Fort Hood soldiers.

On Aug. 23, Smith issued a scheduling order calling for the trial to start
Monday. He issued a new order Thursday that pushed the trial back to Jan. 23.

Abdo has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of an unregistered
destructive device and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a fugitive. If
convicted on the federal charges, he faces up to 10 years in prison on each.

Smith will consider motions in the case in a hearing set for Dec. 21 in
District Courtroom No. 1 in Waco.

The attorneys were notified that should a plea agreement be reached, they
have until Jan. 9 to notify the court. In the event an agreement is
consummated, Abdo would be re-arraigned Jan. 12, unless a different date is
agreed upon.

Abdo was arrested June 27 in the parking lot of America’s Best Value Inn
& Suites in Killeen.

He admitted planning an attack in the Killeen area with homemade bombs he
was building in his hotel room, authorities said. Abdo’s conscientious objector
status, tied to his Islamic beliefs, was on hold pending child pornography
charges.

In addition to bomb-making materials, a handgun and instructions on making a
bomb, Abdo had Army and nurse uniforms in his hotel room, according to search
warrant documents.

He also had a stun gun, binoculars and a video camera, according to court
documents.

Killeen police became interested in Abdo after he acted suspiciously while
purchasing gunpowder and other items on June 26 from Guns Galore in Killeen. A
former Killeen detective who works at the store called authorities, who tracked
Abdo’s movements by speaking with a driver at Luxury Cab.

On June 26, Abdo used the cab to drive him to Guns Galore and another store
in Killeen where he purchased a military uniform, officials said. On the
morning of June 27, Abdo left his hotel room and was preparing to enter another
cab when Killeen authorities arrested him.

Abdo is being held without bail in McLennan County Jail, in part because the
military has a hold on him for the pornography charge. The military has not
commented about how it plans to handle the pornography charge.

Smith issued a gag order in the case two months ago. In Abdo’s initial
appearance in court, he shouted out in support of Maj. Nidal Hasan, charged in
the November 2009 massacre on post in which 13 people were killed.

promer@tdtnews.com

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