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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The mother of a Wisconsin man accused of trying to join the Islamic State group says he's a mentally ill loner who often makes boastful comments to try to win acceptance.
Federal prosecutors have charged Joshua Van Haften, 34, with trying to provide material assistance to a foreign terrorist group. He was arrested at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Wednesday. He's accused of flying back from Turkey after a failed attempt to join the group in Syria.
His mother, Janice Van Haften, 56, of Beloit, told the Wisconsin State Journal for a story published Saturday (http://bit.ly/1EmYQUH ) that he likes to make wild comments to draw attention to himself or to keep other people away.
"Why? Because he has a disability for mental health issues," she said. "I don't know what kind of mental illness he has, but it's obvious he needs help."
Janice Van Haften said her son never fully recovered from a serious brain injury he suffered when he was hit by a car while he was riding his bike when he was 15. She also said he was scarred by a sexual assault conviction when he was 18 that led to nearly seven years in prison.
"He's always been a gentle soul who is frustrated because nobody understands him," she said.
Her partner, Howard Whitledge, 60, who has known Van Haften since he was 18, said Van Haften turned to Islam while he was in prison on the sexual assault conviction.
Joshua Van Haften's religion helped him deal with his frustrations of having to register as a sex offender wherever he lived, Whitledge said.
"That's the only reason why he left the country," Whitledge maintained. "He couldn't have a relationship."
He said Van Haften traveled to Egypt two years ago but got deported after his sex offender status became known.
The complaint, which had been under seal since Oct. 28 until it was made public Thursday, alleged that Van Haften talked to people about his plan before leaving the U.S. in August for Turkey. But it said he was unable to cross the border into Syria. It also cites Facebook posts from Van Haften. In one post, he complained that the people who were supposed to help him just wanted his money, that he had almost no cash left and that he was dropped off on a road in the country and never picked up
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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj
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