Webloggin » Update: Press Conference on South Carolina Arrest

I reported earlier on the arrest of Ahmed Mohamed and Yousef Megahed. Mohamed claims he was born in Kuwait and Megahed claims he was born in Egypt; I am going to assume that both are here on student visas since the Sheriff said they were here legally.

According to the Sheriff at approximately 5:30 on Saturday evening the suspects were pulled over for speeding. The officer noticed “certain items” within the vehicle and asked to search it. The suspects complied stating that they were carrying “fireworks” giving the Policeman probable cause to search the vehicle. The officer then called for backup, on a hunch that this was more than “fireworks”.

At this time neither the Sheriff nor the FBI are saying exactly what they found, just that what they did find was in being looked at by the proper authorities.

The two men are being charged under South Carolina statute 16-23-720 which is:

Use, counseling or soliciting others to use, possessing, or threatening to use destructive device; harboring terrorist.

(A) It is unlawful for a person intentionally to use a destructive device or cause an explosion, or intentionally to aid, counsel, solicit another, or procure the use of a destructive device. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction:

(1) in cases resulting in the death of another person where there was malice aforethought, must be punished by death, by imprisonment for life, or by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for thirty years;

(2) in cases resulting in the death of another person where there was not malice aforethought, must be imprisoned not less than ten years nor more than thirty years; and

(3) in cases resulting in injury to a person, must be imprisoned for not less than ten years nor more than twenty-five years.

(B) A person who intentionally causes an explosion by means of a destructive device or aids, counsels, solicits another, or procures an explosion by means of a destructive device, which results in damage to a building or other real or personal property, or a person who attempts to injure another or damage or destroy a building or other real or personal property by means of a destructive device, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not less than ten years nor more than twenty-five years.

(C) A person who knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, distributes, or possesses with the intent to distribute a destructive device or any explosive, incendiary device, or over-pressure device or toxic substance or material which has been configured to cause damage, injury, or death, or a person who possesses parts, components, or materials which when assembled constitute a destructive device is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not less than two years nor more than fifteen years.

(D) A person who threatens, solicits another to threaten, or conspires to threaten to cause damage, injury, or death or to cause damage to or destroy a building or other real or personal property by means of destructive device is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than fifteen years.

(E) A person who knowingly protects, harbors, or conceals another who is known by the person to have planned, executed, or committed any violation of the provisions of this article is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than fifteen years.

Fireworks, my ass. I’m sure they were planning to create a spectacular show. You do not get a charge like this for carrying sparklers.

Hat’s off to the alert officer on the scene.

Others:

Michelle Malkin