Earl Moore Makes Initial Appearance in U.S. District Court in Denver

Earl Albert Moore, age 65, of Denver, appeared this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Denver. He was advised of the charge pending against him by U.S. Magistrate Judge Craig Shaffer, as well as the penalties associated with that charge. Moore was represented by a federal public defender at the hearing. Moore is next expected in court on May 6, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. for a detention hearing. Following the hearing the defendant was remanded into custody pending that detention hearing.

Moore is currently charged with one count of maliciously damaging and destroying, and attempting to damage and destroy, by means of fire and an explosive, a building and other real and personal property used in interstate or foreign commerce. If convicted, Moore faces not less than 5 years, and not more than 20 years in federal prison, as well as a $250,000 fine.

He was arrested yesterday morning without incident by Boulder Police Officers following a tip from a grocery store employee for allegedly placing an destructive device at the Southwest Plaza Mall. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.