COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho - An 18-year-old man accused of trying to provide information to ISIS to coordinate church attacks in Coeur d'Alene pleaded guilty Wednesday morning in federal court.

Federal prosecutors charged Alexander Mercurio with

He was actually communicating with a government confidential source.

Federal prosecutors say he told the source he wanted to travel overseas to support ISIS, but didn't have the money and was going to carry out a "home op" instead.

They say he planned to attack churches with fire, a metal pipe and a knife.

Court records show the communication began in 2022 and escalated with the plans to attack the church in early 2024.

"The Defendant knowingly took substantial steps to provide material support or resources, that is himself as personnel, to the Isl

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