Investigations by state and federal law enforcement into bomb threats made against Texas State University and Texas A&M University have resulted in the arrests of a Bryan man and his ex-girlfriend. The criminal defense attorney for the girl said her arrest by the Texas State Police Department is in conflict with the evidence the FBI obtained that resulted in the arrest of the boyfriend on federal charges.
State authorities claiming to have evidence linking her email account to the bomb threats against the two universities arrested the 19-year-old woman. The charges against her include three counts of a felony charge of making a terrorist threat and three misdemeanor charges. She faces up to 10 years and a fine up to $10,000 on each felony charge. Each of the misdemeanor charges is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine up to $4,000.
What is disputed by the girl’s criminal defense attorney is that the federal charges against the ex-girlfriend are based upon evidence obtained during the investigation by the FBI pointing to the 22-year-old man as the person responsible for the bomb threats. The defense attorney made reference to statements the man made to police at Texas A&M in which he admitted to using his ex-girlfriend’s email account. Those statements resulted in police charging him with a felony. The FBI charged him with the federal crime of violating the explosive materials law.
When state and federal law enforcement agencies investigate the same criminal act, a criminal defense attorney can review the evidence obtained in each of the investigations. Sometimes, as in the university bomb threat cases, evidence establishing the guilt of one suspect might help prove the other suspect’s innocence.
Source: The Eagle, “FBI charges Bryan man in bomb threat,” Allen Reed, Nov. 9, 2012