Nozette Pleads Not Guilty in Spy Case, Held Without Bail

Accused spy Stewart David Nozette in India.

US scientist pleads not guilty in Israel spy case
AFP

A leading US space scientist credited with helping discover water on the moon pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges he tried to sell US defense secrets to Israel for two million dollars.

Judge Deborah Robinson rejected a bail request from Stewart David Nozette, who was arrested October 19 in an FBI sting operation, saying he was considered a flight risk and should remain in jail pending trial.

Nozette, 52, is charged with two counts of attempted espionage for allegedly trying to sell secrets to an FBI agent posing as an Israeli intelligence officer — crimes which could carry the death penalty but more likely would result in life in prison.

“The weight of evidence against the defendant is substantial,” federal prosecutor Heather Schmidt told the court.

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