Judge allows statement in Ohio bomb-plot case

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A man accused of plotting to bomb a highway bridge near Cleveland has lost his bid to keep prosecutors from using his post-arrest statements.

An attorney for defendant Connor Stevens had argued that his client’s comments to FBI agent Jake Ruddy in April weren’t voluntary and should be suppressed.

Court records indicate Ruddy had talked with Stevens for 14 minutes before beginning the process of advising him about his Miranda warning rights.

U.S. District Judge David Dowd today ruled in favor of government prosecutors after his review of the interview’s circumstances.

Judge Dowd said issues he considered included the fact that Stevens made what the judge called incriminating admissions during the four-hour interview, and that Ruddy did not coerce Stevens.

Stevens’ attorney Terry Gilbert says it’s difficult to win suppression requests.