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CNN Live Today

Suspected Pipe Bomber Luke Helder Set to Leave Nevada

Aired May 10, 2002 - 11:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We move back to the mainland U.S., where suspected pipe bomber Luke Helder is set to leave Nevada. He is headed to Iowa this morning to face charges.

Our Martin Savidge is in Reno, Nevada, where Helder is being held for now -- Marty, good morning.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Luke Helder's bags are packed, he's ready to go. But, to use the vernacular out here, he has not left the building. He is still inside the detention facility.

We had anticipated he was going to be leaving momentarily. We had been anticipating that for quite some time. He has not. It turns out now that there is a delay of about maybe two hours, perhaps even longer.

He is not only in the custody of the U.S. government, but also apparently a prisoner to airline flight schedules, and there are delays out here in this part of the world. We're not exactly sure why. And so that means his process of being transferred to Cedar Rapids, Iowa is also being delayed.

And that may have an impact on his court appearance that was scheduled for 4:30 Central Time, 5:30 Eastern Time, where he was to answer against a number of federal charges. Just to give you the legalese of those charges, one count of using an explosive to maliciously destroy property effecting interstate commerce, and one count of using a destructive device to commit a crime of violence.

O that first offense, if found guilty, he could face up to 40 years in prison. On the second offense, if found guilty, he could face up to life in prison. And Iowa is just the first stop on what is going to be a long, legal odyssey -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Martin Savidge, in Reno, Nevada -- Marty, thank you very much.

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