Free Republic

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A naturalized citizen from Iran who has a history of mental illness pleaded innocent to possessing enough cyanide to harm hundreds of people, authorities said. Hessam S. Ghane, 53, was undergoing a court-ordered mental evaluation and remained in custody pending the results.Ghane has no ties to any terrorist organization, an FBI agent testified Tuesday before a federal magistrate. Psychiatrist Howard Houghton testified that Ghane suffered suicidal depression and paranoia.Houghton said he called police in February after Ghane threatened government groups and unnamed individuals. After making the threats, Houghton said, Ghane said: "You know I...

Local Man Charged With Possession Of Chemical Weapon Chemist Is Former U.S. Army Employee KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An Independence man has been charged with possessing a chemical weapon, but prosecutors won't say what he allegedly may have planned to do with the potassium cyanide. The chemical was discovered in his apartment in February, authorities said. A federal grand jury in Kansas City indicted Hessam Ghane, 53. He's a naturalized U.S. citizen from Iran who holds a doctorate in chemistry, KMBC's Peggy Breit reported. The indictment was unsealed Friday, when Ghane was arrested and made his first appearance in...