Judge allows statement in Brecksville bridge bomb plot case

AKRON, Ohio - A man accused of plotting to bomb a highway bridge near Cleveland has lost his bid to keep prosecutors from using his post-arrest statements at trial.

An attorney for defendant Connor Stevens had argued that his client's comments to FBI agent Jake Ruddy in April weren't voluntary and should be suppressed.

Court records indicate Ruddy had talked with Stevens for 14 minutes before beginning the process of advising him about his Miranda warning rights.

Federal judge David Dowd ruled Monday in favor of government prosecutors following his review of the interview's circumstances.

Dowd said issues he considered included the fact that Stevens made what the judge called incriminating admissions during the four-hour interview, and that Ruddy did not coerce Stevens.

A message was left with Stevens' attorney.