In addition to a Jackson County charge of aggravated kidnapping, John D. Moro now faces a federal weapons charge.

Moro will enter a plea to aggravated kidnapping charges today at his arraignment hearing at the Jackson County Courthouse in Murphysboro.

Moro, 35, from Centralia, is accused of kidnapping his daughter, Demetria, from Giant City School at gunpoint. Moro led authorities on a nationwide manhunt. He was apprehended by FBI agents in Ellensburg, Wash. two weeks after the alleged abduction.

Advertisement

A federal complaint also was filed Friday in Benton charging Moro with the possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Joel V. Merkel, assistant U.S. State’s Attorney, said Williamson County Judge Donald Lowery found Moro to be a threat to the physical health of his daughter during Moro’s divorce proceedings. Merkel said persons who are found to be a threat are prohibited from possession of weapons.

The federal complaint alleges that Moro was armed with a .380-caliber chrome-plated Lorcin pistol when he entered Giant City School, threatened various school officials and abducted his daughter.

Merkel said if Moro is found guilty of the federal offense, he will face a potential penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years’ supervised release.

Merkel said Thomas E. Leggans will be the prosecuting attorney for the case. Leggans was unavailable for comment Monday.

Merkel said if any other applicable charges arise, the U.S. Attorney’s office will take appropriate action.

As of now, there are no other charges, Merkel said.

Advertisement*

Michael Carr, chief of criminal divisions with the U.S. Attorney’s office, said Moro has a tentative initial appearance at the U.S. District Court in Benton in relation to the federal charge at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Carr said Moro cannot begin the federal proceedings until he is released from Jackson County Jail on bail or is finished with his proceedings in Jackson County.

State proceedings take precedence, Carr said.