An American who was captured by Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria is being detained in the U.S. and has been charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.
Warren Christopher Clark, a former substitute teacher in Sugar Land, Texas, had applied to teach English to students within ISIS and was captured earlier this month by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. U.S. law enforcement took custody of him this week, and he arrived in Houston on Thursday.
Clark appeared in a Houston federal court Friday and has been charged with attempting to provide himself as material support to ISIS, according to an indictment that was unsealed Friday.
In a recent interview Clark, who said executions and crucifixions were part of “normal life” in Syria, entered ISIS territory three years ago. But he did not fight for ISIS.
“I wanted to go see exactly what the group was about, and what they were doing,” Clark told NBC News this month. “Of course I saw the videos. I think with the beheadings, that’s execution. I’m from the United States, from Texas. They like to execute people, too. So I really don’t see any difference. They might do it off camera, but it’s the same.”
After Clark was captured, his father Warren Clark denied that his son was part of ISIS and claimed his “son would not be involved in anything along those lines.”
“My son doesn’t have an evil thought in his mind about hurting anyone,” Warren Clark told the New York Times.
Clark could have to pay a fine of $250,000, if he’s convicted, and could spend up to 20 years behind bars.
“The FBI continues to aggressively pursue individuals who attempt to join the ranks of ISIS’s foreign fighters or try to provide support for other terrorist organizations. This fight against terrorism is not one we can combat alone,” special agent in charge of the FBI’s Houston Field Office, Perrye Turner, said in a statement.
