Accused church bomb plotter set to plead guilty

A Syrian refugee accused of plotting to blow up a North Side church and murder police in the name of ISIS is set to plead guilty in federal court next month.

Mustafa Alowemer is scheduled to enter a plea on Sept. 16 before U.S. District Judge Marilyn Horan.

The judge had previously set a date for Aug. 30 for Mr. Alowemer to plead unless he decides to go to trial.

Defense and prosecution have been in plea negotiations for months, with the U.S. attorney’s office making an initial plea offer in May and a formal offer in July.

Mr. Alowemer’s public defender, Andrew Lipson, said in court papers that his client faces six-and-a-half to eight years based on the plea, although he said the government’s calculations for a prison term are likely to be higher. Sentencing guidelines call for up to 20 years.

Neither the public defender’s office nor the U.S. attorney’s office will comment on any aspect of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Soo Song had previously said the government wants to move the case along to preserve the rights of the potential victims at Legacy International Worship Center in Perry South.

Mr. Alowemer, a refugee who was living in Northview Heights, planned to blow up the church

with a backpack bomb, the FBI said. He is accused of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State and distributing information related to explosives in furtherance of a violent crime.

Agents said he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a statement he videotaped and made arrangements to carry out the attack with the help of two people he thought were sympathizers.

They turned out to be FBI agents.

Prosecutors said that in addition to blowing up the church, he planned to plant a second bomb to kill responding police.

Mr. Alowemer remains in U.S. custody.