Accused Of Trying To Board Plane With Gun, Knife, Needles

No, sir. He didn't do it.

At least, that's 65-year old Ali Reza Khatami's story and he's apparently sticking to it, after he was charged with trying to carry a number of weapons onto a United Airlines flight from John Wayne Airport (CA) to Reagan National Airport (DC) on June 24th.

Khatami pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he tried to get on the plane with a .38 caliber handgun packed in an oven mitt -- which Asst. US Attorney Greg Staples called a "low-tech silencer."

But that's not all.

Khatami is also accused of trying to board with a folding knife and ten hypodermic needles in his carry-on. His story is that he forgot to drop them off at a storage facility before walking into the airport.

Staples argued that Khatami gave inconsistent stories to investigators. For that reason, he wanted the suspect jailed without bond until his trial. But the federal magistrate set bail at $100,000, saying he wasn't convinced Khatami intended to carry the dangerous items onto the aircraft.

The case goes to trial early next month.

FMI: www.tsa.gov