Anti-Muslim Filmmaker Arrested, Jailed in California

Nakoula Bassely Nakoula violated probation in 2010 fraud conviction
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 27, 2012 6:19 PM CDT
Anti-Muslim Filmmaker Arrested in California
In this Sept. 15 file image from video provided by CBS2-KCAL9, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula is escorted by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies from his home in Cerritos, Calif.   (AP Photo/CBS2-KCAL9, File)

The filmmaker who made the notorious anti-Islam movie Innocence of Muslims is in hiding no more—he got arrested and jailed today in California, reports AP. Authorities picked up Nakoula Bassely Nakoula—aka Sam Bacile, only one of many pseudonyms—for violating the terms of his probation on 2010 bank fraud charges. For one thing, the 55-year-old wasn't supposed to go anywhere near the Internet without supervision, explains the LA Times, but he apparently did so to post and promote the movie's trailer.

At his hearing, a federal judge in Los Angeles declared him a flight risk, cited his history of lying to probation officers, and ordered him detained. "The court has a lack of trust in this defendant at this time," she said, adding that he posed "some danger to the community." It's not clear how long Nakoula will remain in custody. His new charges could result in a two-year prison term. (More Nakoula Basseley Nakoula stories.)

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