Megahed, Mohamed To Receive Separate Trials In Goose Creek Case

April 22, 2008

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A judge has severed the federal trials of two former University of South Florida students whose legal battle began after their car was pulled over by deputies in South Carolina.

A judge made the decision this morning in U.S. District Court after the two defendants, Ahmed Mohamed and Youssef Megahed, entered not guilty pleas today before a different judge during their arraignment on charges handed up last week.

The new seven-count indictment adds terrorism and weapons charges against Mohamed. It also includes a new charge against Mohamed and Megahed relating to devices found in the trunk of their car when they were arrested Aug. 4 in South Carolina.

The new indictment replaced a two-count indictment handed up in 2007.

Megahed’s trial is now scheduled to start May 5 and Mohamed’s July 7 under the ruling by Judge Steven Merryday.

The two defendants appeared together this morning to enter their pleas.

A half-hour later in another courtroom, the men were not present when their attorneys disagreed on when trial should begin.

Megahed and Mohamed had been scheduled to go on trial April 28 on a charge of illegally transporting explosives.

Megahed’s attorney asked to proceed as scheduled. Mohamed’s attorney said she needed more time due to the new indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hoffer, meanwhile, asked for two to three more weeks before a trial begins.

Merryday said it was in the best interest of all to sever the trials. All sides, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, ultimately agreed.

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