News

Actions

Michelle Marie Bastian, Arizona woman indicted on terrorism charges, pleads not guilty Monday

Posted
and last updated

An Arizona woman indicted in a terrorism case has pleaded not guilty.

Michelle Marie Bastian had her arraignment Monday. She now faces a Dec. 8 initial pretrial conference.

The 49-year-old Florence resident is accused of mailing bomb-making instructions and promotional materials from terrorist groups to a state prison in what investigators say was a plot to kill a warden.

Bastian was indicted last week on four felony counts including terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism involving weapons and promoting prison contraband.

Her 39-year-old husband -- Thomas Bastian -- also was indicted on similar charges. He's serving a life sentence for murder.

Authorities say Michelle Bastian allegedly sent articles from al-Qaida and Islamic State magazines that were found in her husband's cell at the state prison in Buckeye.