Published: October 26, 2009 10:41 am      

10:45 a.m. Monday- Jordanian pleads not guilty in alleged Dallas plot

ANABELLE GARAY,Associated Press Writer





DALLAS (AP) — A 19-year-old Jordanian accused of trying to blow up a Dallas skyscraper with what he thought was a car bomb has pleaded not guilty.



Hosam Maher Smadi was arraigned Monday. Smadi, wearing a bright orange jail-issued jumpsuit, pleaded not guilty to both counts.



A federal grand jury indicted him on one count of attempting to use of a weapon of mass destruction and one count of bombing a public place. Each count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.



Smadi, who was arrested Sept. 24, remains in custody.



Court-appointed attorney Peter Fleury said he plans to ask that the trial begin sometime after March.



The FBI says it had been keeping tabs on Smadi after discovering him on an extremist Web site. Investigators have said they believe the teen acted alone.