An Ethiopian immigrant in Utah charged with felonies

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Former UVSC Student Charged With Felonies

OREM, Utah (AP, June 20th, 2007) — An Ethiopian immigrant apparently fascinated with death and shooting U.S. soldiers now faces felony charges for gun violations.

20-year-old Kidus Chane Yohannes was a student at Utah Valley State College. He was charged yesterday in 4th District Court with five third-degree felony charges including falsifying information for a background check to buy a handgun.

He was arrested earlier this month after officers discovered he used false resident alien numbers to buy firearms seized from his apartment and car.

Yohannes came to Utah under a State Department asylum program several years ago.

He graduated from Provo High School in May 2006 and was admitted to Utah Valley State College during the summer of 2006 as a Utah resident.

His roommates at UVSC told police he was quiet and watched a lot of violent videos on the internet. They say they heard him talk about planning to be involved in a mass shooting.