SPOKANE - A man with important ties to white supremacists pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges he planted a bomb on a route of parade of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Spokane, wash., targeting minorities.
Kevin Harpham, 37, reached an agreement with federal prosecutors for a range of penalties recommended 27 to 32 years in only a few days in jail before his trial in District Court.
The pipe bomb was loaded with lead sinker procumbent in a chemical and could have caused massive losses, prosecutors said.
Harpham said the US District Court judge Justin Quackenbush that it took it about a month to build the bomb. He admitted placing the device on the route of the parade in the attempt to commit a hate crime.
The backpack bomb was discovered by workers for parade and off before it could explode.
"This community was terrorised on 17 January, when this happened," U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby said after the hearing. "I hope that the healing that must occur as a result can begin."
Harpham acted alone, said Ormsby.
"There is no evidence to suggest that someone else has participated in this event", he said.
Ormsby praised the various agencies of law enforcement which has gathered evidence leading to the arrest of Harpham March 9. No there was no particular tip that led officers to Harpham, said Ormsby. On the contrary, it is the evidence of the bomb itself, he said.
The detonator was a remote starter purchased on the Internet. The shrapnel that would have mutilated victims was weighed lead purchased from Wal-Mart. The DNA of Harpham was on the handle of the backpack that held the bomb. After his arrest, agents have found photos in a digital camera that included images of Harpham at the parade, photos of young black children walking collection and a Jewish man who wore a yarmulke.
A key was the discovery of a considerable number of postings by Harpham, using a pen name, over a period of years on a white supremacist called Vanguard News Network Web site.
"He says other separatist and white supremacy, it is", said assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Harrington.
The bomb was planted "to continue his racist beliefs", Harrington told the judge.
The judge asked Harpham if he placed the bomb in an effort to hurt people because of their race, colour or national origin.
"Yes," Harpham replied.
Ormsby said that Harpham offered no explanation of why he chose to commit a hate crime now.
The plea agreement charged Harpham attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and hate crime to place the bomb in an effort to target minorities. Harpham spoke clearly when he said "guilty" to each of the two leaders.
He will be sentenced on 30 November.
"Incidents fueled by hate like this have no place in a civilized society," said Thomas Perez, Deputy U.S. Attorney General for civil rights. "Fortunately, no one is hurt by this man's depraved act."
Public defender, Roger Peven, issues outside the hearing room has not responded and was not available for comment later.
Harpham, originally was charged with committing a hate crime with a firearm in a crime of violence, try to use a weapon of mass destruction and to possess an unregistered explosive device unauthorized. He could face life in prison.
A resident of Addy, Harpham is a veteran of the army which has extensive ties with white supremacist groups, but no records of past crimes.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, tracks hate groups, said that Harpham made over 1,000 assignments on the Vanguard News Network. The Centre also said that Harpham belonged to a neo-Nazi group called the National Alliance.
Harpham served from 1996 to 1999 in the U.S. Army in what is now joint Base Lewis-McChord, near Tacoma. His lawyers have said that Harpham had not been used recently.
He remained in prison, County of Spokane without bail since his arrest.
Federal prosecutors will be argued for a sentence of 32 years. Counsel for the Harpham will seek to 27 years. If Quackenbush recommends a sentence more or less, the case could still go to trial. Under this agreement, Harpham remain on probation for the rest of his life once he leaves prison.
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