Megahed wants separate trial

TAMPA -- Two suspended University of South Florida students jailed on federal explosives charges never conspired to commit a crime and should have separate trials, an attorney for one of the men said today in a motion to sever the cases.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Adam Allen, who represents Youssef Megahed, 21, says the Aug. 29 indictment against Megahed and Ahmed Mohamed, 26, never charged the men as co-conspirators or co-defendants.

The indictment charged both men with illegally transporting explosive materials. But only Mohamed faces an additional charge of teaching and demonstrating the making and the use of an explosive and destructive device.

"There is no evidence in the indictment or otherwise that Mr. Youssef Samir Megahed was involved in a common scheme or plan with defendant Mohamed," Allen writes. "To not grant a severance of defendants would result in ... prejudice to Mr. Youssef Samir Megahed because he would run the high risk of being found guilty merely by association with defendant Mohamed."

Samir Megahed of Tamap Palms, Youssef Megahed's father, has said several times that he doesn't think his son's case is as serious as Mohamed and wants it separated.

Both Megahed and Mohamed remain in jail awaiting trial, which a judge has scheduled to begin as early as Dec. 3.

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer