Trial delayed for man accused in courthouse bomb plot

SPRINGFIELD -- A judge has delayed the trial for a Decatur man accused of attempting to bomb the federal courthouse in Springfield.

U.S. District Judge David Herndon this week set a March 14 trial date for 30-year-old Michael Finton.

Finton was arrested by federal investigators a year ago. He's accused of trying to blow up the courthouse with a van he thought was packed with explosives.

The judge also asked attorneys to prepare arguments on whether the trial should be moved to a different courthouse. Herndon says there could be an issue of bias among potential jurors in central district.

The (Decatur) Herald & Review reports that a decision on whether to move the trial likely won't be made until December.

Finton is a former fry cook who converted to Islam while serving a prison sentence. He also goes by the name Talib Islam.