RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Enrique Marquez, a friend of San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in federal court to charges of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, two counts of making false statements when buying two rifles, one count of marriage fraud and one count of making a false statement on immigration paperwork.
U.S. District Judge Sheri Pym set his trial for February 23. It’s expected to last 12 to 14 days, according to the prosecutor. A status conference and motion hearing will be held February 8.
Marquez is suspected of buying rifles used by Farook and Farook’s wife, Tashfeen Malik, in the December 2 mass shooting that left 14 people dead in San Bernardino. The married couple were killed in a shootout with police a few hours later.
With his hands and feet shackled, Marquez, 24, wore a white jail jumpsuit in court Wednesday. Pym asked the defendant his name, if he understood his rights and if he had seen his indictment.
Marquez said he understood his rights and had read his indictment but did not want it read aloud in court.
Authorities said Marquez and Farook planned terror attacks but never carried one out.
Marquez bought firearms from local stores in late 2011 and early 2012, authorities said. He identified himself as the buyer at the time but bought the rifles for Farook as part of their plans to attack Riverside City College and a freeway, according to the federal complaint.
