Accused Sudbury Terrorist Still in Prison

BOSTON — Striding into the courtroom handcuffed and wearing a neon orange jumpsuit from the Plymouth Country Corrections Facility, Sudbury resident and accused terrorist Tarek Mehanna nodded and winked to the 100 or so supporters who attended his bail hearing Wednesday at John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse.

Federal Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr., heard arguments from both the government and Mehanna's defense, but did not rule on whether to release the 28-year-old pharmacist.

Attorney Janice Bassil, who represents Mehanna, said Wednesday the government singled out 60 instant messages that were pulled out of context, distorted and "cherry-picked."

The government says these messages are proof Mehanna and others were conspiring against U.S. troops overseas and to help Al Qaeda.

"This case is about the sad and real truth about how youth in this country are being radicalized by groups like Al Qaeda," said prosecutor Aloke Chakravarty.

Mehanna, 27, is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.

The conspiracy allegedly occurred from 2001 to 2008.

Chakravarty said Mehanna was unsuccessful in acquiring weapons to carry out the attack, and was also rejected by terrorist groups abroad.

Mehanna allegedly conspired with others, including Ahmad Abousamra, who authorities say fled to Syria in 2006, and an unnamed informant.

Mehanna’s lawyers said in court documents that the charges are based on political comments he made in text messages in 2006. They are arguing the comments are protected under the First Amendment.

Mehanna graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 2008.

During his arrest in 2009, Mehanna was free on bail from an earlier arrest in November 2008 at Logan International Airport. He was charged with lying to federal investigators in a 2006 interview. Prosecutors claim he attempted to obtain automatic weapons from Daniel Maldonado. Maldonado, who is a friend of Mehanna's, was at the time a terrorism suspect. Maldonado is serving a 10-year prison sentence for training with Al Qaeda in Somalia.

Check out the video to the right of the supporters for Mehanna outside the courthouse.