Magistrate won’t bar release of Pa. bomb suspect
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PITTSBURGH (AP) – A federal magistrate has rejected prosecutors’ request to bar the release on bail of a university student from Russia charged with making bombs in his central Pennsylvania apartment.
Eighteen-year-old Vladislav Miftakhov, formerly of San Carlos, Calif., is charged with possessing unregistered bombs and related materials near the Penn State-Altoona campus.
U.S. Magistrate Keith Pesto ruled Monday that enough evidence had been presented to send the charges to a federal grand jury but said he would not order the defendant’s detention.
He suggested that Miftakhov would be allowed to return to California while awaiting trial, but agreed to stay that decision to allow prosecutors to appeal.
The court heard testimony that Miftakhov had been seen setting off explosive devices. But defense attorney Chris Brown said “This is what boys do.”