By Heidi B. Perlman, Associated Press, 06/29/01

BOSTON -- An alleged white supremacist who prosecutors say plotted to blow up Jewish and African-American monuments in Boston pleaded innocent Friday in federal court.

An artist's depiction of Leo Felton today in federal court.

Leo Felton, 30, is accused of planning a terror campaign in the city in order to spark a "racial war."

Erica Chase, 21, his coconspirator, pleaded innocent at her arraignment Monday.

Felton is facing nine charges, including firearms and explosives violations, conspiring to obstruct justice, and making and passing counterfeit currency.

His court appointed attorney, Lenore Glaser, said reports of his plans have been blown out of proportion, and said her client should not be prosecuted for controversial beliefs.

"In our country you have the right to believe what you want to believe," she said. "Ideas are not criminal, even if they are repugnant to you. There is a lot of misinformation out there right now."

Prosecutors say he had stored bomb-making equipment in the apartment he and Chase shared in Boston's North End neighborhood, and may have planned to blow up the New England Holocaust Memorial in downtown Boston and the under construction Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, among other targets.

U.S. Attorney Theodore Merritt refused comment, but New England Anti-Defamation League director Robert Leikind said Felton deserves to be punished for his plans.

At a rally at the Holocaust Memorial Friday, the ADL and city officials spoke out against hate groups.

"It's one things to espouse certain beliefs, and our country protects the right to believe what you want," Leikind said. "But it's another thing to take the next step and engage in violence, and threaten people because of their race, religion and so forth."

Felton and Chase were arrested April 19 in East Boston trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a Dunkin' Donuts.

That same week, Felton bought materials that could be used to make bombs, including a 50-pound bag of ammonium nitrate, a coffee maker, from which he removed the heating and timing mechanisms, prosecutors said.

He also ordered "bird bombs" from Arkansas, which contain an explosive mixture and fuse, prosecutors said.

Felton, whose father is black, is a member of the white supremacist White Order of Thule, authorities said.

His arraignment had been originally scheduled for the same day as Chase's, but was postponed when he was discovered in his prison cell Sunday with self-inflicted wounds.

He entered court Friday in shackles and leg irons, and appeared alert. Glaser would not talk about his condition, or the nature of the injuries.

Merritt said he plans to call about 20 witnesses during the trial, which he estimated would last about two weeks. If convicted, Felton faces a maximum of 65 years in prison.

He will be back in court on Aug. 10 for a status hearing.