Innocent plea
made in ship caseThe woman allegedly threatened
to kill Americans on board
A woman accused of planting notes threatening to kill Americans aboard a cruise ship to cut short a family vacation and return to her boyfriend pleaded innocent yesterday to federal charges.
Kelley Marie Ferguson, 20, of Laguna Hills, Calif., did not speak in court except to softly answer "yes" when asked if she understood the charges against her and whether it was her intent to plead not guilty.
Ferguson was indicted under a provision of the USA Patriot Act that makes it illegal to convey false information about an attempt to kill passengers on a vehicle of mass transportation.
"Our approach is just as it would be with any defendant that committed an offense such as this, especially given the climate and the tenor of what's going on in the world these days," Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Sorenson said.
"These types of cases have to be treated extremely seriously."
Ferguson's public defender, Loretta Faymonville, was not immediately available after court. A telephone message left at her office was not immediately returned.
Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas was en route to Hilo from Ensenada, Mexico, when it was diverted to waters off Honolulu on April 23 following the discovery of two threatening notes in a ladies' bathroom.
The notes threatened to kill Americans if the cruise ship docked on U.S. soil. The Coast Guard's share of costs of an investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force was estimated at $336,000.
Prosecutors have said Ferguson admitted writing the notes hoping they would force the ship back to California so she could be with her boyfriend.
Ferguson faces two counts, one for each note. Each charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang previously ordered Ferguson held without bail because she is a flight risk. She remains in custody.
Trial was set for July 8.