DEARBORN — The California man accused of planning to blow up the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn rejected his court-appointed counsel stating the lawyer was a Shi’a Muslim and affiliated with the center. 

Roger Stockham, 63, made the announcement at his first hearing on Feb. 4 before Judge Mark Somers of Dearborn’s 19th District Court. Stockham’s new attorney is Matthew Evens. The next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 18. Police found Stockham outside the religious center with highly explosive fireworks on Jan. 24. He faces charges of making a false report or threat of terrorism and one count of possessing explosives with an unlawful intent. “I reject my appointed counsel. He is a Shi’a,” Stockham told Somers.

Mark Haidar, Stockham’s original attorney, says Somers should have waited to hear from him first. Haidar said Stockham’s decision to reject him on the basis of religion shouldn’t have been accepted. “It bothers me that was accepted by the court,” Haidar said.  He says the decision would have been justifiable if court-appointed attorneys weren’t paid for by taxpayers, legal reasoning was provided as to why Stockham didn’t want Haidar to represent him, or if the two didn’t get along.

“People have arguments with court-appointed attorneys but that wasn’t the case with us,” Haidar said.

He was out of town and unable to attend the hearing, but met with Stockham in advance and told him he was Muslim and attended the mosque for funerals, donated money to it and prayed there. “I thought we got along well to be honest. He never indicated he had a problem. And he indicated to me he was Muslim,” Haidar said.

Haidar is not certain of when Stockham converted to Islam.

“I don’t know, you would have to ask him that,” he said on Stockham’s change in religion. Because he was out of town, Haidar arranged for  another attorney to take his place and request a competency evaluation for Stockham based on his history of mental illness. Haidar says he’s surprised Evens isn’t going to request an evaluation. Evens said his client is in a good mental state and understands the charges, court process and can participate in his defense. Haidar has a long history of dealing with clients who have mental illnesses and says Evens’ decision is troubling.

Haidar says he’s certain Stockham wouldn’t have blown up the center, and the explosives police found on Stockham were legal fireworks. “I don’t believe he had any intent to blow up the mosque,” Haidar said.

Haidar initially had to think about defending Stockham because of his association with the mosque.  “I wanted to show the rest of the non-Muslim community that an American Muslim has an open mind… and my duty as a lawyer comes first,” he said.

He says Somers’ decision may have been different if Stockham had objected to having a lawyer with a different religion or race.