| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
Judge denies bail to man accused in Santa Ana bombing conspiracy
Friday June 20, 2003SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) A federal judge denied bail Friday to a man who allegedly conspired with his brother to build a pipe bomb that exploded outside a congresswoman's campaign office.
A defense lawyer unsuccessfully argued that Hai Duc Le, 34, of Garden Grove, was trying to commit suicide and never intended to harm anyone else, so his brother, Hien Duc Le, 33, should be freed.
The brother has been charged with conspiracy to make a destructive device and use of explosive materials. He could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
U.S. prosecutor Todd Tristan called the suicide theory ``implausible,'' noting that the bomb was set up to be detonated by remote control and was packed with roofing nails.
Hai Duc Le was seriously injured in Sunday's blast in a car parked at a Santa Ana strip mall containing the office of Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove. He remains hospitalized in critical condition but was expected to live and faces federal terrorism charges that can carry a life sentence.
Tristan said authorities were trying to determine whether Sanchez, a cafe or other nearby businesses might have been bombing targets.
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