By Ed Meyer, Akron Beacon Journal –
AKRON, Ohio — One of the five men accused by the federal government of plotting to blow up the bridge along state Route 82 over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and two additional charges in connection with explosives.
In an appearance in U.S. District Court in Akron, Anthony Hayne, 35, of Cleveland, will face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison but also could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison for the first of his three guilty pleas, according to federal sentencing guidelines.
Hayne, standing at the courtroom podium with attorney Michael J. O’Shea, also pleaded guilty to attempted use of weapons of mass destruction in connection with a structure affecting interstate commerce and attempted use of explosives to destroy a interstate commerce structure.
As part of Hayne’s plea deal, Judge David D. Dowd Jr., carefully led him through all terms of the agreement, which includes cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office by “testifying in any and all court proceedings, if necessary,” Dowd said.
The other four defendants, who were present in court after Hayne’s plea deal was signed and reviewed, face a scheduled Sept. 17 trial date in Dowd’s court.
A team of law enforcement officers from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested the five men on the night of April 30 after their futile attempt to detonate what turned out to be a fake bomb provided by an FBI undercover informant.
The targeted bridge, a massive structure more than 1,100 feet long, stands on national park grounds between Summit and Cuyahoga counties.
No damage occurred to the bridge, and there were no injuries to the officers or suspects.
Hayne, dressed in a red plaid shirt and blue jeans, routinely answered questions from Dowd about whether he understood the terms of the plea deal, but he made no comments on his role, the alleged roles of the other defendants or any other details about the case.
Dowd said a sentencing date would be set after he receives a draft of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Department.
Whatever sentence Dowd imposes, he informed Hayne that he must get at least five years in prison under the federal sentencing guidelines for his guilty pleas.
The other alleged plotters are: Douglas L. Wright, 26, of Indianapolis; Brandon L. Baxter, 20, of Lakewood, Ohio; Connor C. Stephens, 20, of Berea, Ohio; and Joshua S. Stafford, 23, of Cleveland.
Outside court Wednesday, more than a dozen supporters of the five men held signs with such sentiments as “Stop FBI Entrapment” and “Justice Don’t Be Blind.” The Associated Press reported that the mother of one defendant says the suspects were manipulated by the FBI informant.
