Box cutter suspect faces federal charge
Benjamin Baines Jr., the 21-year-old Clearwater man caught at Tampa International Airport on Sunday with a box cutter hidden in a hollowed-out book, faces a federal felony charge.
A complaint was filed Sunday in U.S. District Court in Tampa charging Baines with attempting to carry a dangerous weapon on an aircraft, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
Baines pleaded guilty in Hillsborough County court Monday to carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Baines will make a first appearance in federal court after serving the jail sentence, said Steve Cole, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa.
- Steve Huettel, Times staff writer
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What a raw deal for Mr. Baines! he was just taking a trip to the beach and needed the box cutter to open coconuts. he shouldnt worry though because its a sure bet someone during his arrest process made some kind of racial or predjuditial insulting comment towards him. He must have been profiled, how else would someone think to look into a book for a coconut opener. Its too bad he is not an arab that would guarantee him the finest weasel lawyer money can buy.
Posted by: Uma Gumma | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 05:37 PM
They should round up the whole family and send them back to Jamaica mon.
Posted by: Is So | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Benny isn't a bad person at all; this is all a misunderstanding and I will back him all the way! FREE BENNY!!!
Posted by: shay | Monday, February 25, 2008 at 10:15 AM