TerrorismCalif. Terrorism suspect to remain in jail, for now

Last Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison Claire ordered the release of alleged supporter of foreign terrorists, Nicholas Michael Teausant, on $200,000 bail under restrictive conditions.. Teausant will remain in jail, however, because the judge accepted the request by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt to allow prosecutors to take the matter to U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Tuesday.

Teausant, a 20-year-old former National Guard from Acampo, California is charged in a one-count grand jury indictment with attempting to provide support and resources to rebel group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

The Sacramento Bee reports that federal authorities claim Teausant was on his way to Syria two months ago to join the rebel group, but was arrested by the FBI in Washington as he was about to enter Canada. Court papers show that Teausant was talking with an undercover FBI agent and a paid agency informant about joining a terrorist group and fighting in Syria, in addition to expressing anti-American views.

Assistant Federal Defender Benjamin Galloway claimed Teausant’s “mental illness appears to have made him a vulnerable and appealing target for the paid confidential informant.” According to Galloway, the informant “groomed Mr. Teausant for months, giving him attention, feeding him information, and suggesting further action before Mr. Teausant boarded that train (to Seattle).”

Under his order for release, Teausant would have been required to remain at his grandparents’ house, and only given permission to leave for health care, religious services, or court appearances. An electronic ankle bracelet would have allowed court officers to track him. Judge Claire also ordered that he received psychiatric treatment, “including drug and substance abuse treatment as appropriate.” Teausant has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and placed on Risperdal since he arrived at the Sacramento County Main Jail on 2 April 2014.

Hitt, worried about Teausant possibly removing the ankle bracelet, requested Claire to order Teausant to remain in jail. Galloway insisted that Teausant should be released due to his mental illness. “He’s going to be back in the community anyway,” Galloway said, insisting his client will not spend more than “six or seven years” in prison.

Citing her initial order for release, Claire said, “I have seen no affirmative steps (to support terrorism) other than getting on the train,” adding that there is no history of “violent outbursts.”