January 13, 2010

MUHAMMAD ABU TAHIR MAKES INITIAL APPEARANCE IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN DENVER

DENVER – Muhammad Abu Tahir, age 47, of Glen Allen, Virginia, appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen M. Tafoya for his initial appearance.  At that hearing, Tahir was advised of the charges pending against him, as well as the penalty for those charges.  The charges are interference with a flight crew, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, and not more than a $250,000 fine, plus possible restitution.  Tahir was arrested because of his January 8, 2010 behavior aboard a AirTran Airways Flight #39 that was traveling from Atlanta to San Francisco.  The plane was diverted to Colorado Springs airport because of Tahir’s unruly behavior, including assaulting a flight crew member. 

During this morning’s hearing, Magistrate Judge Tafoya appointed a Federal Public Defender to represent Tahir.  That person has not yet been selected.  The government notified the court that it is asking for pre-trial detention, pending review of a report to be assembled by Pre-Trial Services.  Tahir will next be in court on Friday, January 15, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing and detention hearing.  That hearing will also take place in Magistrate Judge Tafoya’s Courtroom.

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