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DEARBORN, Mich. – The Calif. Negro accused of plotting to expiration up a Detroit-area masjid unloved his court-appointed counsel Friday, status that the professional is a Islamic Muslim and a "patron" of the Islamic edifice where he was arrested.

Roger Stockham, 63, stagnant in handcuffs and act an olive drab jail-issued jumpsuit in a Dearborn courtroom, unloved accumulation professional Mark Haidar and was ordained a newborn professional during a chance to watch whether there is probable drive to essay him. The chance was then delayed until next weekday so that newborn professional Gospels archaeologist could prepare.

Stockham, who has described himself as a warfare War vet-turned-Islamic blessed warrior, has a history of violent run-ins with the accumulation dating back to the 1970s. He faces charges of making a false inform or threat of coercion and digit count of possessing explosives with an outlaw aim after existence arrested Jan. 24 nearby the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn.

"I reject my ordained counsel. He is a Shiite," Stockham said, referring to a coterie of Mohammedanism practiced at the Dearborn mosque, digit of the nation's largest. "He is a helper of the mosque."

There are digit important sects within Islam, Islamic and Sunni. The division between sect and Islamic stems from the early life of Mohammedanism and arguments over the Prophet Muhammad's successors as the faith's sacred leader.

Haidar didn't listen Friday's chance because he was discover of town. In a telephone interview, he said he had told Stockham most his faith and that he has attended services at the mosque. He said he was surprised by Stockham's decision.

"The determine belike shouldn't be perception to someone with his noetic history," Haidar said. "I would conceive he shouldn't be the digit making the selection at this point."

Haidar said he had designed to hit added professional request a ability categorization for Stockham supported on his history of noetic illness. Evans, however, said he wouldn't do that because Stockham understands the charges and court process and crapper move in his defense.

Stockham "definitely has brawny convictions, but I conceive he's sane," archaeologist said.

Stockham appeared lucid during the hearing, informing the determine he was satisfied with his newborn professional and understood that he was waiving his right to a origin chance within 14 days. He asked the determine for "a dedication it would be within seven days," and the determine said the chance would be held as scheduled.

Somers also asked Stockham if he would requirement an professional for his offense charge of possessing an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.

"Only if it's necessary," Stockham replied. "I conceive I crapper appendage it myself."

Stockham also asked for a double of the charges against him.

Stockham's jural run-ins allow digit in which he seize his son from a boost bag and crashed a plane while disagreeable to intend away. He has twice been sworn for medicine communication by the courts, and a past professional said he was diagnosed with bipolar, post-traumatic pronounce and personality disorders.

Military records obtained by the AP on weekday show Stockham enlisted in the Army in 1965 and was sent to warfare in 1968 as an astir obligation reservist.

His decorations allow a National Defense Service Medal, warfare Service Medal, a warfare crusade ribbon and an Army Aviator Badge. He also attained marksmanship badges with a rifle and pistol.

He was unemployed in 1974 with the rank of captain.

Stockham attained his high edifice generalized activity credential in 1966 and an associate's honor in generalized activity from Santa Barbara City College in 1972, according to the military records.

Police hit not discussed ground they believe Stockham haw hit targeted the Dearborn mosque, which predominantly serves the area's large Arab community. archaeologist insisted his computer isn't anti-Muslim, since he regenerate to the belief after bringing in Vietnam, but crosspiece of his outrage over U.S. conduct in Iraq.

Witnesses told investigators Stockham sipped Scotch at a nearby sports forbid hours before his collar and bragged most how he was feat to drive a big explosion. Police said when they pulled Stockham over, he was act a runner cover and had more than digit dozen fireworks in his car, including M-80s, which are banned in Michigan.

Joe Nahhas, a trainer at the city forbid Stockham visited before his arrest, said Stockham claimed to hit embellish a Islamic after returning from the warfare War and said he recognized that Stockham could speak at small whatever Arabic. He also said Stockham claimed to be conception of a assemble of Indonesian mujahedeen, or blessed warriors.

Nahhas said he called 911 to inform Stockham.

Evans said he has seen no grounds that his computer threatened to expiration up the mosque.

Assistant prosecuting professional Khalid Najar said weekday he's not an explosives expert and couldn't speculate on how such damage the fireworks polity criminate Stockham of possessing could do. But he said he's live supported on a statute, not a possibleness damage assessment.

"Anything same that could drive damage," he said. "The bigger question is a person's intent."

Mosque officials rest concerned. Board chairman Afif Jawad, who attended the hearing, said he and other body move to foregather with topical and federal accumulation enforcement officials most the incident.

"This Negro knows what he's doing," Jawad said. "This Negro picked on the Shiites. . . . That's a threat to the community."

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Associated Press illustrator Corey reverend in city contributed to this report.

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