Prosecutors to Seek Adult Charge Against Teen in Bomb-Making Case

The case against a 17-year-old accused of helping another teen make bombs in a Bethesda home will be transferred to adult court if Montgomery County prosecutors have their way.

Peter Feeney, an assistant state's attorney, said yesterday at a juvenile court hearing that prosecutors plan to file a motion to have the Gaithersburg youth tried as an adult. If the teen's lawyer opposes the request, a judge will decide where the case should be tried.

The lawyer, Rene Sandler, said after the hearing that she and prosecutors have reached no agreement. The Washington Post generally does not publish the names of defendants charged as a juveniles.

The teen was charged this summer with making and possessing an explosive device, misdemeanor theft and having unauthorized access to a computer, Sandler said. Feeney said he could not comment because the case is a juvenile matter.

Prosecutors have said the teenager and 19-year-old Collin McKenzie-Gude had bomb-making materials in McKenzie-Gude's Bethesda home. Investigators found military-style rifles, two shotguns and bomb-making materials in McKenzie-Gude's bedroom in July, authorities have said, along with fake identification, a map of Camp David marked with the presidential motorcade route and a directory of St. John's College High School in Northwest Washington with some names highlighted.

Authorities have said the two teens were friends at St. John's. Sandler said her client has since withdrawn from St. John's, though she declined to say where he now attends school.

"We're hopeful for a resolution that will allow him to get on with his life, get an education and get back to what matters," Sandler said after the hearing.

McKenzie-Gude was indicted last month on federal charges of possessing bomb-making materials and having documents for false identification. He is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court Dec. 23, said his lawyer, Steven Kupferberg.

The younger defendant, accompanied by his parents, remained silent yesterday during the brief hearing in juvenile court.