Plano Explosion Suspect Appears In Federal Court
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Anson Chi, the man accused of setting off an explosive while tampering with a gas line, appeared in federal court in Dallas for a detention hearing Tuesday.
His left eye is swollen nearly shut, his left arm was bandaged, right hand bandaged. Chi was injured when the bomb he was carrying accidentally exploded, police say.
Chi spoke clearly when he told the judge he wanted to postpone his detention hearing and instead have it in federal court in Plano. No date has been set for that yet.
Chi's family appeared in court, but had no comment.
But federal court documents show Chi is charged with possession of a unregistered firearm for making a homemade bomb.
It was late at night on June 17 when authorities say Chi set off that explosive device while he held it. It damaged a nearby natural gas pipeline and caused a small leak.
At the time, documents show Chi wore black nitrile gloves. He was taken to Plano Medical Center before being transferred to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
Investigators revealed they found chemicals, liquids, a splash suit and epoxy putty –– all items to make an explosive device –– inside his parents' house in Plano.
They also found books on technological slavery and domestic terrorism inside the home. Chi left a long, digital trail of anti-government rhetoric. A YouTube video shows him tearing up a 1040 form while ranting about the IRS saying, "I will not file" as he tears up the form.
In a blog post Tuesday afternoon, the Anti Defamation League said it found Chi was involved in the tax protest movement. The ADL says when tax protestor Joseph Stack flew his plane into an IRS building in Austin two years ago, Chi posted a link to Stack's suicide note and wrote, "Bring down the IRS."
FBI agents identified Chi through a fingerprint database. He was arrested for theft at a Plano Walmart in April of this year.
Chi's criminal record also includes a theft charge in San Angelo and a concealed weapons charge in California. At the time of his arrest, he was still wanted for violating the terms of his probation there.
