Local Man, A Self-Proclaimed Jihadist, Pleads Guilty

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A Natrona Heights man described as a self-proclaimed jihadist was in federal court.

Emerson Begolly changed his plea to guilty and admitted to soliciting people on the internet to produce car bombs, cause train derailments, cut power lines, attack police stations and attack Jewish schools.

He faces a mandatory minimum five years in jail on weapons charges and more time on a terrorism charge. Begolly faces formal sentencing in November.

Back in January, prosecutors asked a judge to keep Begolly behind bars because they said he was a danger to the community.

Begolly's mother says he has a genius IQ, but has Asperger's, a form of autism in which the person can't interact very well socially.

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