October Martinique Lewis (left) is one of seven Portland-area terror suspects under arrest. She will be freed until her trial. (kgw.com graphic/FBI photos)
Posted on 05/27/2003 8:00:29 PM PDT by chance33_98
Judge orders release of Portland terror suspect
05/27/2003
By WILLIAM McCALL, Associated Press Writer
The only woman among seven Portland-area terror suspects facing conspiracy charges for allegedly aiding al-Qaida and the Taliban was released Tuesday after a federal judge delayed their trial by three months.
But October Martinique Lewis agreed to a number of restrictions, including electronic monitoring and drug tests, along with finding a job or returning to school.
October Martinique Lewis (left) is one of seven Portland-area terror suspects under arrest. She will be freed until her trial. (kgw.com graphic/FBI photos)
"Yes, your honor. Thank you," Lewis said, also promising to surrender her passport, avoid computers and cell phones, and limit travel to Oregon and adjacent Clark County, Wash.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jones said he was reluctant to postpone the trial for Lewis and six co-defendants from Oct. 1 to Jan. 5, given recent 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rulings on the constitutional requirement for a speedy trial.
But the judge said he had little choice because the request by attorneys for the six defendants in custody was unanimous. The seventh person charged, Habis al Saoub, remains at large.
"The defendants are represented by outstanding lawyers in every chair in this room," Jones said, glancing around his courtroom.
"I have complete faith in all of you, and if you tell me you can't be ready by Oct. 1 ... we'd just be walking right into post-conviction problems," Jones said.
Jones warned five of the men charged that they would remain in custody through the trial, and they all agreed to the delay when questioned individually.
Jones ordered the release of Lewis after she agreed to the list of conditions. The judge told her she would be staying with a couple in Vancouver, Wash., at an undisclosed address.
Lewis, Maher "Mike" Hawash, Jeffrey Battle, Patrice Lumumba Ford and brothers Ahmed and Muhammad Bilal all have pleaded innocent to charges of conspiracy to wage war against the United States, conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaida and conspiracy to contribute services to al-Qaida and the Taliban.
Battle, the Bilals, Ford and al Saoub also face firearms conspiracy charges while Lewis and Ford were charged with money laundering. Battle, Ford, al Saoub and Ahmed Bilal also face firearms possession charges.
The five men traveled to China in an unsuccessful effort to reach Afghanistan and aid the Taliban, prosecutors said. Lewis is not accused of that.
Jones set the original Oct. 1 trial date for an omnibus hearing to consider all defense motions before proceeding to trial.
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