DEARBORN — On Feb. 11 Roger Stockham, the man accused of planning to blow up the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, faced a preliminary examination at 19th District Court. The session focused on what Stockham meant when he reportedly used the terms “big explosion” and “mosque” at a bar about three blocks away from the Center before his arrest.  Bar manager Joe Nahhas who called police right after he heard Stockham repeatedly say there was going to be a big explosion testified at the hearing while being questioned by Stockham’s attorney Matthew Evans.

According to reports while testifying Nahhas said, “when someone tells you…there is going to be a big explosion, it means people are going to get killed.” Police found Stockham outside the ICA 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 unlawful intent.

During the hearing Evan’s asked Nahhas whether he actually heard Stockham say he planned to attack the center. Evans said Stockham never told Nahhas he was out to kill people. Stockham was expected to appear at his arraignment before Dearborn’s 19 District Court Judge Mark Somers on Feb. 18. 

Stockham has a criminal history including a guilty plea by reason of insanity for threatening former U.S. President George W. Bush in 2004. Federal authorities say he once abducted his son and took a psychiatrist hostage in the 1970’s and attempted to plant a bomb in a Nevada airport garbage can in 1985. Police officers also testified at the hearing. Dearborn Police Officer John Kostiuk says he saw Stockham wearing a black ski mask while driving. According to Kostiuk a grocery bag of fireworks was on the front seat and consisted of bottle rockets, smoke bombs, sparklers and M80s.