Buyer of guns used in California massacre appears in court

The man who bought the assault rifles his friend used in the San Bernardino massacre will remain in custody as he faces terrorism-related allegations because he is a danger to the community, a judge ruled Monday.

FILE – In this December 29, 2010 file photo, traffic jams up on the eastbound State Route 91 Freeway near Corona, Calif. According to a complaint filed in federal court, an area on this freeway was an alleged terrorist target of Syed Rizwan Farook, who led an assault that killed multiple people in San Bernardino, Calif., on December 2, 2015, and his friend Enrique Marquez. “They’ll have no problem applying that to this guy’s activities”. If convicted, Marquez could spend up to 35 years in prison.

Marquez also is charged with illegally buying the rifles the shooters used in the attack and visa fraud stemming from his marriage to a Russian woman that prosecutors say was a sham. Each of those charges carry 10-year maximum penalties. He did not enter a plea during the proceedings.

This suggests the Federal Bureau of Investigation believes Marquez’ story of guilt-ridden confession shows he would not have carried out any any terrorist attack and wants to wrap up the case simply.

“Obviously, there are many more instances of people trying to join up with a group rather than being linked to actual violent acts”, Bobby Chesney, a University of Texas law professor, told the Associated Press.

Investigators say Marquez and Farook were planning attacks on the school they attended, Riverside Community College, and on a crowded California freeway in late 2011.

Those rifles were then used at the Inland Regional Center by Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik to kill 14 people and injure 22 during a holiday gathering. There is no evidence that Marquez collaborated with the couple in the deadly shooting.

Farook and Malik, described by authorities as radicalise Muslims inspired by Islamic State, were killed in a shootout with police two hours after their rampage in San Bernardino, about 60 miles (100 km) east of Los Angeles. Sources said Marquez cooperated during their interviews.

The FBI said he spoke with agents over 11 days, waiving his rights to keep quiet or consult a lawyer.

While Marquez was apparently unaware the San Bernardino attacks were being planned or going to take place, authorities say Marquez’s purchase of the firearms and failure to warn authorities about Farook’s intent to commit mass murder had fatal consequences.