Teen accused of Phoenix Pride terror plot wants bond lowered from $1M
Marvin Jalo's lawyer argued in Maricopa County Superior Court on Monday that not all the facts were presented during the initial bond hearing.
Jalo, 17, faces one count of providing assistance or direction to an act of terrorism and one count of organizing an act of terrorism.
Jalo expressed his intent to carry out an attack in October 2024 and mentioned receiving financial backing from 'Islamic State supporters," according to police. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in October said Jalo acquired materials to create an explosive device.
Albert Duncan, Jalo's attorney, said Monday that no evidence showed Jalo was directly affiliated with terror groups. Duncan also said the state's claims that Jalo owned volatile substances were misleading because the substances were hydrogen peroxide and acetone, common household products.
Jalo's life had been stabilizing since his online posts, Duncan said, explaining he worked at a grocery store and was attending school to become a barber before his arrest.
'I don't think the FBI or anyone contacted Albertsons to see if there had been any change of behavior, any specific behavior at his employment there," Duncan said. "He got reviewed while working there."
Superior Court Judge Joseph Kiefer indicated he was contemplating lowering the bond but expressed concerns about Jalo staying with his father.
'There are suggestions that the father may have certain leanings," Kiefer said. "There's a suggestion by the state that that may have influenced Marvin in some way."
Duncan contended that those suggestions were unreliable. They were made by Jalo's mother, who is divorced from Jalo's father, amid a family court case between the two, he said.
Maricopa County prosecutor Edward Leiter argued that new evidence from Jalo's search history showed he had been researching homemade explosives and ghost gun schematics as recently as September.
Leiter said the state was concerned about Jalo posting bond, as prosecutors believed he posed a serious risk to the community.
'If the court, as indicated, is leaning toward lowering the bond, it should be substantial,' Leiter said, advocating for any reduced bond to be a significant sum still.
Kiefer did not rule Monday but indicated he would by the end of the week.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Marvin Jalo, accused of Phoenix Pride terror plot, wants bond lowered
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