By Melissa A. Wabnitz
Transcript Staff Writer
A University of Oklahoma student accused of transporting an explosive device into Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City last week is still enrolled and could begin classes at the Norman campus next Monday.
OU public affairs vice president Catherine Bishop confirmed Tuesday aviation senior Charles Alfred Dreyling Jr. is still a student. Dreyling is one semester away from completing an aviation management degree, according to his lawyer Kent Eldridge.
Bishop would not comment on whether the university was instituting its own disciplinary proceedings against Dreyling, as outlined in the OU student code handbook.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security documents obtained by The Transcript detail on Aug. 11, federal agents searched Dreyling's Norman residence. In the residence, the memo states, agents found "gunpowder, carbon dioxide cartridges and wires" as well as a computer with a video of detonation of a device similar to the one transported into the airport Aug. 10.
Norman Police Lt. Tom Easley confirmed the department's participation in the search but said he would not comment on the nature of the items removed from Dreyling's Norman residence, nor would FBI spokesperson Gary Johnson. One charge of attempting to carry an explosive or incendiary device was filed against Dreyling in the Western District of Federal Court in the State of Oklahoma. Eldridge said as far as he knows, prosecutors are not planning to file new charges against Dreyling.
Though an unidentified Homeland Security official wrote in the Aug. 12 memo the Transportation Security Administration is proceeding with a recommendation that the FAA revoke Dreyling's commercial license, no such actions have taken place said FAA spokesperson Roland Herwig. Dreyling received the license May 5.
"We have not performed any actions against (Dreyling)," Herwig said.
U.S. Attorney Robert McCampbell said "he was unable to comment on the matter."
A preliminary hearing is scheduled Aug. 31. Until that point, Eldridge said his client will continue to abide by the terms of his release, as he is "representing a fine young man."
"This has been quite a shock to him," Eldridge said. "He's never been in any kind of trouble before and we are waiting for the preliminary hearing."
Eldridge said the government is "admittedly, very concerned about what happened" at the airport and that his client has, and will continue to, cooperate with prosecutors and investigators.
Melissa A. Wabnitz 366-3550 mwabnitz@normantranscript.com
Local news
OU student faces Aug. 31 hearing on federal charges
Dreyling still enrolled, has commercial pilot's license
- Local news
-
-
Woman in critical condition
A hospital official said a Norman woman remains in critical condition after emergency responders reportedly extricated her from her vehicle....
-
Western Avenue to close for expansion to four-lane highway
On Monday, residents in northwest Norman will be a little closer to having a four-lane highway with paved shoulders as construction begins on 60th Avenue Northwest, also known as Western Avenue. When completed, the rural four-lane will ...
-
School districts ready to go mobile
In October, Norman Public Schools introduced an innovative communications tool with School Connect, a mobile app for Android and Apple phones, which enabled users to access virtually any school-related information with a tap on their touch ...
-
Eye for beauty
Beauty may be hard to measure, but it carries a price tag. For Norman City Council members, developers and the University North Park Architectural Review Board, balancing aesthetics with the cost of doing business has become an ongoing ...
-
Norman Youth Council accepting applications
The deadline to apply for Norman Youth Council is March 30. Interested high school students are encouraged to apply. Youth council is comprised of sophomore, junior and senior high school students who reside within Norman....
-
Dispatcher reports need for extraction after wreck
A Wednesday night car crash in northwest Norman placed one driver in the hospital....
-
Tiger followed his gut on making college decision
In the end, Donovan Roberts went with his gut. It was his gut that the Norman High senior relied on when he originally committed to Arkansas, and it’s what led him to sign with the Razorbacks on Wednesday, despite a late push from the ...
-
Man is still in critical condition
A 61-year-old Patriot Guard Rider from Norman remains in critical condition after being involved in a two-vehicle crash Friday morning. His wife, Cindy Ayers, is maintaining her bedside vigil....
-
Lexington manager remains on leave
Lexington City Manager Jason Orr remains on administrative leave with pay, though the city will have to take action in less than a week. Jason Orr’s first court appearance is set for Feb. 15....
-
Cushing residents closely watching pipeline’s fate
CUSHING — While the Keystone XL pipeline has been grabbing national headlines, Cushing residents and businesses have watched the fate of the line with personal interest....
- More Local news Headlines
-
Woman in critical condition
