- A federal judge in Nevada ordered that
Larry Wayne Harris be returned to Ohio to face charges of violating his
probation. The judge dismissed the charges of possessing deadly anthrax,
but Harris allegedly violated his probation from a 1995 conviction of mail
fraud in obtaining the bubonic plague virus. He ordered Harris to be held
until Ohio can pick him up because Harris was a flight risk. United States
Magistrate Judge Mark Abel signed the warrant to arrest Harris based on
a report by the U.S. Attorney,s office. In the report, Harris is accused
of misrepresenting himself as involved with the Central Intelligence Agency,
making a statement threatening to possess a biological agent for use as
a weapon and conducting experiments with bacteria in violation of guidelines
set by the courts in 1997. The report also says vials of substances labeled
as anthrax vaccine were taken from his Lancaster home last week. The vials
have been sent to a Maryland lab for identification. If Harris is found
guilty of violating his probation, he could face up the five years in prison.
He is supposed to appear at a hearing in U.S. District Court later this
week, but it is not known when.
-
- DESERT TROUBLES FOR HARRIS: Last week,
Harris and William Leavitt were arrested in Las Vegas for allegedly having
the anthrax virus. Authorities now say they were carrying a legal form
of the bacteria in a veterinary vaccine. Harris is still accused of violating
his probation by experimenting with the chemical. He was placed on probation
after pleading guilty to illegally obtaining the bubonic plague germ in
1995. William Leavitt was released from jail, but FBI agents are still
searching his home.
-
- HISTORY: Harris was accused of illegally
getting bubonic plague bacteria through the mail in 1995. He said he never
intended to hurt anyone. He pleaded guilty last year in Columbus federal
court to one count of wire fraud. He was sentenced to 18 months probation
and 200 hours of community service.
-
- HARRIS TIMELINE: · Harris arrested
in May 1995 · Indicted on June 1995 on two counts of wire fraud,
two counts of mail fraud · Pled guilty in November 1995 ·
Plea agreement thrown out by judge in May 1996 · Scheduled to go
on trial April 28, 1997 · Pled guilty again on April 22, 1997 to
one count of mail fraud · Sentenced to 18 months probation, 200
hours community service · Arrested in Nevada in possession of anthrax
agent on February 19, 1998
|