U.S. Attorney 'Pretty Confident' Decision Will Be Made on Ciccolo Charges
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Adams man suspected of plotting acts of terrorism from his Murray Street apartment could face additional charges as soon as March 23.
Prosecutors and defense attorney David Hoose were back in U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson's courtroom on Wednesday for a status conference.
Robertson asked U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Regan whether the government was prepared to add to the weapons and assault charges on which Ciccolo was arraigned on July 29.
"That's still up in the air, but we're much closer to a decision," O'Regan told the judge.
"As we have requested in the status report, we'd like to have another status conference in six weeks. ... We're pretty confident we'll know by then where we are and can proceed forward."
To date, Ciccolo, 23 at the time of his July 4 arrest, has not been charged with any federal terrorism-related charges. But documents submitted at the time of his bail hearing in July point toward those accusations.
On Wednesday, O'Regan said the government has more evidence that would appear to support that kind of case.
"We've been waiting for forensics reports related to potential explosives and chemicals and computers," O'Regan said, apparently referring to evidence seized at 10 Murray St. on July 4.
"A forensics report has confirmed that items Mr. Ciccolo possessed ... [included] partially constructed Molotov cocktails and other evidence on computers that tend to support information he was giving in his post-arrest statement."
Portions of that videotaped statement were played in court on July 14. In the statement, Ciccolo is seen saying that the self-proclaimed Islamic State, known as ISIS or ISIL is, "a really good thing."
Robertson set March 23 for the next status conference.
During the hearing, he said the forensic examinations were just one reason the government needs more time before filing additional charges.
"Because of the nature of the case ... it involves a lot more people," O'Regan said.
After the brief hearing, O'Regan declined to entertain any questions.
Talking to reporters in the hallway of the U.S. Courthouse, Ciccolo's attorney speculated about what "more people" might be involved.
"I expect a case like this would need to be reviewed by the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston and at least one level in Washington," Hoose said, emphasizing that he had no direct knowledge of those discussions.
Hoose once again declined to comment on what role, if any, Ciccolo's mother might play in the government's investigation or whether Ciccolo had been examined by a psychiatrist during his incarceration in a Rhode Island facility.
Tags: #berkshireterror, ciccolo, terrorism, US Court,
