Judge OKs bond for bomb suspect
ROCKFORD – An Ogle County man charged with conspiracy in connection with a 2004 bombing in Arizona will remain in custody at least 2 more days while federal prosecutors try to persuade a judge in Arizona not to release him at all.
Daniel Mahon, 58, of Davis Junction, appeared briefly before U.S. Magistrate Judge P. Michael Mahoney at a hearing Monday morning to determine whether a $50,000 cash bond, offered by Daniel’s father, William Mahon, was coming from a legal source.
Defense attorney Dennis Ryan said that the $50,000 would come directly from Daniel’s 88-year-old father, and that no other groups or individuals contributed to the bond.
“Mr. Mahon has indicated that this is coming from his savings account, held at a local bank,” Ryan said. “This is money he has earned and he has direct control over.”
Mahoney ruled that the bond requirements had been met, but his order allowing Daniel Mahon to post bond, made Thursday, has been appealed by federal prosecutors in Arizona, where the case has been filed.
Now a stay is in effect until Wednesday, when an Arizona judge has until 5 p.m. to either rule on the appeal or extend the stay.
Mahoney also ruled Thursday that Daniel’s twin brother, Dennis, would not be released.
Dennis Mahon also is charged with conspiracy, as well as malicious damage of a building by means of explosive and distribution of information related to explosives.
U.S. Attorney John McKenzie wanted both men held until their federal court appearances in Arizona, where the charges originated.
He said the brothers were flight risks and dangers to the community.
The Mahons were arrested the morning of June 25 after federal agents and Ogle County sheriff’s deputies searched their parents’ home at 5794 Blackwood Road, east of Davis Junction.
Agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and U.S. Postal Inspection Service said they found assault rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two improvised explosive devices, bulletproof vests and white supremacist materials.
According to the appeal, the object of the conspiracy Daniel is charged with was to “promote racial discord on behalf of the ‘White Aryan Resistance’ by damaging and destroying buildings, facilities and real property of both the government and businesses whose activities the defendants believed conflicted with their goals.”
The appeal goes on to say “defendants also conspired to teach the tactics of terrorism with the intent that others commit acts on behalf of WAR.”
The indictment against Daniel Mahon alleges that “on or about Sept. 26, 2003, Dennis Mahon, using the phone of Daniel Mahon, called the city of Scottsdale Office of Diversity and Dialogue office, and left a voice message stating that ‘the White Aryan Resistance is growing in Scottsdale. There’s a few white people who are standing up.’”
The indictment also alleges that, in January 2005, Daniel Mahon “taught an individual how to plan for criminal activity, how to dress to avoid detection by law enforcement, and how to blow up a vehicle by releasing phosphorus compound into its gas tank.”
Don Logan, a former head of the diversity office, was injured when a bomb exploded on Feb. 26, 2004, as he tried to open a package. Logan is black.
Prosecutors also say the twins planned and discussed trips to gun shows in 2005 to acquire books about making bombs and materials to make them.
“Dennis Mahon and Daniel Mahon discussed measures to avoid detection by law enforcement at the gun show, including the necessity to travel separately to the gun show, to wear hats and sunglasses and to split up at the show,” the appeal says.
Defense attorneys have argued that both men had Firearm Owner Identification cards and had a legal right to possess the guns. They also noted that possessing or belonging to white supremacist groups is not illegal, and that neither defendant has a criminal record.
