Mental fitness testing ordered for Illinois man accused of bomb charge, threatening Obama
By APThursday, September 23, 2010
Man accused of threatening Obama ordered tested
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A federal judge ordered mental competency testing for an Illinois man accused of threatening President Barack Obama and falsely claiming to have a bomb during a standoff.
Fifty-year-old Roman Conaway made his first court appearance Thursday in East St. Louis and did not enter a plea.
He was arrested Wednesday after a seven-hour standoff during which he said explosives were packed in his belt and three containers on his property. All turned out to be harmless.
Authorities say Conaway also called an area mosque and threatened to ignite a war between Muslims and Christians. An FBI agent says in court papers that Conaway denies threatening Obama.
A judge ordered Conaway to be represented by the federal public defender’s office and deferred ruling about bond until after the psychiatric tests.
