Informant in Arizona Bombing Case Dubbed a ‘Trailer Park Mata Hari’; Defense Claims Entrapment
White Supremacist brothers argue sexual entrapment in their defense.
As the trial of the 61-year-old brothers winds down in federal court, defense attorneys are arguing that the government’s conduct was outrageous and that the informant’s actions amounted to sexual entrapment.
During closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutor Michael Morrissey told the jury that the hiring of the informant, identified in court records as Rebecca “Becca” Williams, was “entirely permissible and necessary” to the investigation of Dennis and Daniel Mahon.
“There was no use of sex to obtain evidence,” he said.
The jury began deliberating whether to convict the brothers, who have pleaded not guilty, after closing statements ended late Tuesday. A verdict is expected by the end of next week.
The brothers are accused of sending a package bomb in 2004 that maimed Don Logan, a black man who was the diversity director for the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale at the time. Logan, 54, was hospitalized for three days after the bombing and needed four operations on his hand and arm. The bombing also wounded a secretary.