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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Feds: Man, 20, tried to help terrorists

A Clarkston man who seriously injured himself with a homemade bomb last year has been charged with trying to assist terrorists.

A grand jury indicted Joseph Jefferey Brice, 20, this week on new charges of attempt to provide material support to terrorists, manufacturing an unregistered firearm, distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Brice has been in jail since May 3 on a firearms charge.

Investigators believe he posted comments on YouTube under the name StrengthofAllah and discussed through email plans to rob a bank in Lewiston after planting bombs near a school to distract police.

Federal authorities began probing his activities after he was injured by a homemade bomb on April 18, 2010, and investigators learned he'd posted videos of explosions to YouTube.

In February, Brice wrote on Youtube that he found an "FBI or ATF tracking device on his vehicle" and that the FBI had singled him out in their investigation into the explosive device left along the planned route of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity march in Spokane on Jan. 17. The only suspect in that case, Kevin W. Harpham, was arrested near Addy, Wash., on March 9 and remains in jail.
 



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