Ohio man pleads guilty in alleged terror plot, faces 20 years in jail

madrid train bomb 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
madrid train bomb 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
A man accused of joining al-Qaida in the early 1990s and helping teach fellow Muslim extremists how to bomb US and European targets pleaded guilty Tuesday to planning terrorist attacks. Christopher Paul, 44, pleaded guilty to a count that carries a maximum life prison sentence, but entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors that calls for a 20-year term. US District Court Judge Gregory Frost accepted the plea but said he would not give final approval to the deal until he sees the government's pre-sentence report, which is not expected for several months. Paul pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction - specifically bombs - in terrorist attacks. Prosecutors agreed to drop charges of providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to provide support to terrorists.