Judge Wants Bridge Bomb Plot Suspects Sentenced for Terrorism

An Akron judge has decided the bridge bomb plot should be treated as a terrorism attempt, the Associated Press and NewsNet5.com report.  

That means that Brandon L. Baxter, of Lakewood; Connor C. Stevens, of Berea; and Douglas L. Wright, of Indianapolis could receive stricter sentences than previously thought. The three pleaded guilty in September. A fourth suspect, Anthony Hayne of Cleveland, pleaded guilty in July and agreed to testify against the others if necessary.  

The four men, along with Joshua S. Stafford, of Cleveland, were arrested after attempting to blow up the state Route 82 bridge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park on April 30. 

NewsNet5.com reports that the “terrorist enhancement” could mean that Baxter, Stevens and Wright could spend 30 years or more in prison. Check out the full post for more details about the decision and what lesser sentence they could have been facing before. Sentencing is expected to come later this month.