Woman who
threatened ship gets
to see boyfriendA federal magistrate says it is
for the good of the couple's baby
A federal magistrate has ruled that Kelly Marie Ferguson, who admitted making terroristic threats on a Hawaii-bound cruise ship, will be allowed to see her boyfriend, who is the father of her recently born baby.
U.S. Magistrate Kevin Chang denied Ferguson contact or communication with Joshua Brashear after she pleaded guilty in May to one count of giving false information about an attempt to kill passengers on mass transportation. Chang released her to the custody of her parents until sentencing in September.
Chang granted the modification of the rules he imposed before sentencing, saying, "It is in the best interest of the baby." He allowed contact and communication between Ferguson and Brashear so they could discuss the child's needs. Chang stipulated the meetings should be at Ferguson's home and said Ferguson's parents "should not unduly interfere" with the meetings.
Ferguson gave birth to a baby girl on June 25, while under house arrest at her parents' Laguna Hills home, said her attorney, deputy public defender Loretta Faymonville. Brashear is the father.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson agreed to the request for communication with Brashear but asked the meetings be supervised by Ferguson's parents to ensure he does not encourage Ferguson to flee.
"Brashear has been a negative influence," he said.
Faymonville said Ferguson has cooperated with the terms of her release and wears the electronic monitoring device. Faymonville said she was concerned that Ferguson's parents have a motive to be present in the meetings and would try to interject their views for the baby on the couple.
Investigators had said Ferguson left the notes aboard Legend of the Seas on April 22-23 to cut short a vacation with her parents from Ensenada, Mexico, to Hilo so she could return to Brashear in California.
One note said, "I have been sent on a mission to kill all Americanos aboard Legend if we port on American soil."
The threats forced the ship to cancel its stop in Hilo and anchor in Honolulu while the FBI searched for weapons and interrogated crew members and passengers.
According to the federal sentencing guidelines, Ferguson faces 12 to 24 months in prison and a period of supervised release, said Faymonville.
