Charge dropped against OSU student who tried to board plane with stun gun

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An Oklahoma State University student won't face charges for trying to board an airplane with a stun gun but he'll have to wait a decade before he can return to the United States.

Thursday, December 2nd 2004, 6:07 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An Oklahoma State University student won't face charges for trying to board an airplane with a stun gun but he'll have to wait a decade before he can return to the United States.

U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot on Tuesday approved a request by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oklahoma City to dismiss charges against Marzook Saleh Al-Shammary, a doctoral student from Saudi Arabia.

In exchange for the dismissal, Al-Shammary, 28, will be deported and won't be allowed to return to the United States for at least 10 years, according to court papers filed in federal court in Oklahoma City.

``He was not a terrorist,'' but a doctoral student studying physics, his attorney William S. Price said.

Prosecutors said the offense was serious, but apparently agreed that Al-Shammary had no intent to use the stun gun.

``I think the government did the right thing,'' Price said. ``He plans on going back to Saudi Arabia and being employed and finishing his degree in Europe.''

Because of a visa mix-up at the university, Al-Shammary had agreed, before the federal charges were filed, to go home and not return to America for three years, Price said.

On July 1, 2003, Al-Shammary attempted to board a plane at Will Rogers World Airport with a stun gun, according to a federal grand jury indictment issued Nov. 2.

The indictment alleged the stun gun was ``accessible'' and ``in the same luggage along with the gun were batteries for it.''

Al-Shammary was not arrested, Price said.

He is in the Oklahoma County jail awaiting deportation, Price said.