Attorneys Decide What Evidence To Make Public In Case Of Man Who Aspired To Join IS

Attorneys in Madison have reached a temporary agreement about what evidence will be made public in the case of a Cross Plains man charged with trying to join Islamic State group insurgents in Syria.

Federal prosecutor John Vaudreuil said such protective orders are common in cases that involve people trying to join terrorist groups.

“Those things will just remain within the two teams, if you will — the prosecution and the defense — unless and until we have a trial, and then whatever becomes evidence becomes public,” said Vaudreuil.

Joshua Van Haften was deported from Turkey last month and arrested at O’Hare airport. A criminal complaint released soon after cites Facebook postings and conversations Van Haften had with friends about his plans to go fight in Syria.

In court on Wednesday, the FBI returned Van Haften’s copy of the Quran and some money that had been seized when he was arrested. If convicted, Van Haften faces 15 years in federal prison. The next hearing in the case is June 10.

Correction: The broadcast version of this story exluded Joshua Van Haften’s first name.