Feds charge suspect
in airport firePaul Blatchley drove an SUV
into the Maui Airport and torched it
Federal prosecutors are seeking to hold without bail a Maui man accused of driving his roommate's sport utility vehicle into the Kahului Airport terminal Sunday and setting the vehicle ablaze.
Paul Sherman Blatchley, 52, of Haiku, was charged in U.S. District Court yesterday with the federal crime of committing violence at an international airport.
Blatchley, wearing the same aqua T-shirt and jeans he wore when arrested, made his first appearance in federal court yesterday. He did not speak. His federal public defender, Shanlyn Park, acknowledged that Blatchley has seen the complaint and understands the charges against him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Porter said prosecutors will argue at a detention hearing Friday to have Blatchley detained because they consider the offense he is charged with to be a crime of violence and because he presents a danger to the community.
Park could not be reached for comment.
Blatchley's roommate and longtime friend Francis Lobik has said Blatchley is not a terrorist and described him as suffering from bouts of depression.
Maui police charged Blatchley on Monday with first-degree attempted murder and first-degree criminal property damage. He was turned over to federal officials yesterday after discussions with Maui prosecutors.
"Based on the facts and circumstances, that's why we're taking it seriously, why the state was taking it seriously and that's why we're going to continue to look at things like motive and why this was done," Porter said. "It's definitely a serious situation."
If convicted of the federal offense, Blatchley could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison without parole.
In state court, the attempted-murder charge carries a penalty of life in prison without parole.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 16, but Blatchley could be indicted on additional charges in the interim.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Johnson, head of the violent crimes unit, said no final decision has been made on charges. Maui County could still prosecute Blatchley on state charges, he said.
Maui Deputy Prosecutor John Tam, supervisor of the Felony Screening Division, said they are holding off on any action regarding Blatchley because of the federal prosecution and because the investigation is ongoing.
According to an affidavit filed yesterday by FBI special agent M.D. McDonald, Blatchley allegedly shouted, "I wanna kill myself" and appeared to be drawing a weapon before airport security overpowered him.
Maui police recovered in the rear of the blue Dodge Durango three 5-gallon gas containers that allegedly had been bought early Sunday at the Kahului Wal-Mart, McDonald noted.
According to the affidavit, an unidentified witness was walking to the Aloha Airlines counter when she heard a loud horn close to her and turned to see a blue SUV approaching her inside the terminal. She had to quickly move out of the way to avoid being hit, the affidavit said.
The woman said she saw the driver, a Caucasian male, ignite a lighter within the car and reach into the back seat with the lighter.
The back seat became engulfed with flames but the driver remained in his seat. As the flames grew, the driver got out, stood in the doorway and began waving his arms in the air and rocking his body back and forth as though he was dancing, the woman noted.
The fire forced airport officials to close the airport for more than nine hours, freezing outgoing flights and stranding thousands of passengers. Damage to the terminal was estimated at less than $10,000.