Abdullatif Aldosary -- the Coolidge resident accused of detonating an "explosive device" outside the Social Security Administration building in Casa Grande a couple weeks ago -- pleaded not guilty today on two charges related to that bombing.
Aldosary, an Iraqi refugee, faces just one charge related to the actual bombing, and the other charge is related to unlawfully possessing guns.
See also:
-Debbie Schlussel: Why Did Paul Gosar Do Nothing About "Known Terrorist" in District?
-Abdullatif Aldosary Held Without Bond
-Suspect in Casa Grande Bombing Has a History Involving Porn
-Abdullatif Aldosary Facing One Charge Related to Casa Grande Explosion
-Abdullatif Aldosary Accused of Bombing Social Security Office
-Explosion Reported at Casa Grande Social Security Office
No one was injured in the explosion, but the feds allege Aldosary, a convicted felon, detonated the devise outside the Casa Grande Social Security Administration office on November 30, and drove off. Debris landed more than 100 feet away from the spot of the detonation, and Aldosary even lit his own car on fire in the blast, and drove off with his car ablaze, according to the federal complaint.
Aldosary was indicted by a grand jury last week on the charges, which include using an explosive to damage a federal building, as well as the gun-possession charge.
The story seems to be more complicated than those two charges, as a search warrant served at Aldosary's home the night of his arrest turned up recipes and materials for explosive devices.
There was a cache of documents hidden behind a photograph on a wall in the house, including "materials and equipment needed to make RDX...homemade nitroglycerine, ammonium nitrate from homemade chemicals, how to make a bomb from homemade chemicals, and recipes from the Anarchists Chemical Cook Book," the complaint says. There were also handwritten notes labeled "Materials Needed," which included a list of things included in the aforementioned recipes. Additionally, investigators found receipts for a nitric-acid solution, and a scale from a chemical-supply store in Phoenix.
Although the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the bombing of a federal building, there has been no indication from the feds that this was an act of terrorism.
That led Republican Congressman Paul Gosar to ask why a "known terrorist" was allowed to live in his district, despite the fact that Gosar's staff attempted to help Aldosary obtain a green card the year prior.
Aldosary was not actually a "known terrorist," but his application had been denied because, according to legislation passed by Congress, Aldosary had "engaged in terrorism activity."
Aldosary's "terrorism activity" was Aldosary his involvement in a 1991 uprising against the regime of Saddam Hussein, which was egged on by the U.S. government under President George H.W. Bush.
The Department of Homeland Security just recently created an exemption under that immigration law for Iraqis who participated in those uprisings over a one-month period, and a government source told New Times last week that Aldosary met this exemption, and his green-card case was re-opened.
Additionally, although Aldosary certainly has an odd history, none of it relates to terrorism.
Aldosary was arrested in 2008, related to harassment of his former employer, a Gilbert construction company. He would eventually land in prison for a few months due to these charges.
According to a minute entry from the court proceedings, Aldosary sent letters to the company and its employees -- despite an existing restraining order against him -- and two of those letters "were accompanied by sexually explicit photographs."
The owner of the company believed Aldosary "perhaps had ties to terrorist organizations," although a judge noted that he wasn't charged with any such conduct.
That business owner did not return New Times' call for comment.
In August, Aldosary was arrested at a gym in Casa Grande. Aldosary allegedly "displayed pornographic pictures and struck a man," according to a blurb published in the Casa Grande Dispatch at the time, and police refused to elaborate on the details of that incident after the bombing.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the maximum sentences for both of the charges for Aldosary in the bombing case are seven and 10 years.
He pleaded not guilty today to both charges.
According to court records, his jury trial is currently scheduled to begin on February 5.
