MacArthur Pipe Bomb Passenger Says, "I'm Sorry, New York!"

Speaking to Newsday from behind bars at a "private federal prison" in Queens, 20-year-old Steven Nobles says he "made a huge mistake" when, in a rush to catch his flight at MacArthur airport on Long Island last Thursday, he shoved a pipe bomb in his carry-on luggage. He must also be smacking his forehead for packing those fireworks, the 7-inch knife, the electrical circuit boards, and a dozen .22-caliber rounds used in a nailgun to drive nails into concrete. Nobles says we wants to write a letter to "all of New York" saying he's "sorry for what happened." Nevertheless, a judge denied bail and called Nobles "a danger to the community." He faces up to 20 years in prison, but his uncle Frank Henderson, who gave Nobles a job, says, "A terrorist would try to hide it. He didn't hide anything. He put it on the scanner. He hasn't grown up yet. I tried to keep him on the straight and narrow by giving him a trade. A kid is going to be a kid."

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By John Del Signore in News on October 22, 2008 9:30 AM

Comments [rss]

jaycjay

"Didn't he just say a few days ago that he wanted to create a large noise and a lot of smoke on the plane?"

Actually, no. He said he built it with that eventual intent, to blow it up somewhere sometime, but simply forgot it was in his carry on.

That part certainly doesn't make much sense, but on the other hand people say that about guns and knives and stuff all the time. But there's no evidence or accusation that he intended to use it while on the plane.

That, of course, doesn't mean he won't or shouldn't be harshly sentenced.

schizofriendly

MacArthur --

Sheesh.

Ronkonkoma; will you ever be famous for something good?

Mr Mel

Private Federal Prison in Queens?

Ask any postal worker.

Spirit of 76

If ever there was actually someone who deserves "enemy combatant" status and a one-way ticket to Gitmo, it's this guy.

Brooklynbobby

"He hasn't grown up yet. I tried to keep him on the straight and narrow by giving him a trade. A kid is going to be a kid."

And a moron is going to be a moron. Shove the pipe bomb up his butt and detonate it.

matty

He could have blown a hole in the plane. This doesn't sound like a "d'oh" moment. It was premeditated with intent.

This kid should do some hard time.

Dirk

Did he really just use "A kid is going to be a kid" as a defense? I guess there's a lot of stupid in that family.

Splicer

Probably just a dumbass but the remark that he hasn't grown up tells me he might be a retard which would be perfect recruiting material for terrorist groups. Look at the shoe maven, Richard Reed. Anyone looking at this guy could tell you he was mentally unfit to tie the shoes he wore let alone light them on fire.

Politburo

Yes, private federal prison. Welcome to the prison-industrial complex.

ides_of_march

Maybe in Gaza making a pipe bomb is what typical kids do.

wowthatsucks

don't worry, he'll grow up real fast in prison.

miz coaster

Kids will be kids????

um, COLUMBINE? Didn't those kids have a bit of an arsenal?

GM

Didn't he just say a few days ago that he wanted to create a large noise and a lot of smoke on the plane? This kid is a total wackjob.

DaleyGrind

"private federal prison?"

everyAframe

Ah, indeed, Frank; kids will be kids. Remember those nutty youngsters who bombed Oklahoma CIty and the rascals that got the World Trade Center.

Sentence: prison sex.

Next.

Buck Owens

This scumbag needs to be castrated and locked up for the rest of his sad long life. As a 20 year old In prison, he will repeatedly raped for the rest of his days. I think they should lock up his father as well for not teaching him any common sense.