An ex-con with possible ties to the alleged ringleader of a plot to attack Seattle's Military Entrance Processing Station with assault rifles and hand grenades has been charged with assault for allegedly trying to run two Marine recruiters off Interstate 5 near Northgate.

Michael Dale McCright, who prosecutors say uses the nickname "Mikhail Jihad" on the Internet, is facing his "third strike" and a possible life sentence if convicted of the attack.

He has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for first-degree robbery in 2006, assault in 2005 and other felony crimes.

King County prosecutors have asked that McCright, 28, be held on $2 million bail. He is to appear in King County Superior Court for arraignment on Sept. 27, said office spokesman Dan Donohoe.

According to charging documents, at the time of his arrest on July 12, McCright had a telephone that had been used to call Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif. Abdul-Latif and another man were swept up in an FBI-Seattle police sting in June after allegedly plotting to kill federal employees and military recruits at the Military Entrance Processing Station on East Marginal Way over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The charging documents say that McCright remains under investigation by the FBI for "possible ties to domestic terrorism."

Abdul-Latif, 33, also known as Anthony Davis, and Walli Mujahidh, 32, a Los Angeles resident also known as Frederick Domingue Jr., face federal charges that carry sentences up to life in prison for allegedly plotting with an undercover FBI informant to obtain weapons and attack the center. Abdul-Latif, according to the federal documents, hoped the assault would spur attacks by other U.S. Muslims.

According to the charges against McCright, two Marine sergeants — one in uniform and the other in civilian clothes — were driving northbound near Northgate when a small blue car came up behind them.

Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan Picklesimer described the driver as a "bearded white male wearing a tightfitting, white knit hat." The driver slowed, apparently to look at the government plate on Picklesimer's car, then came alongside and saw the sergeant in his uniform.

"Picklesimer reported, 'His eyes widened and he appeared to become angry,' " and then swerved at the sergeant's car, forcing Picklesimer to take evasive action to avoid being hit, the charges allege. The sergeant was able to get the car's license number, and he gave it to police.

McCright was arrested on Sept. 8 after repeatedly refusing to meet with detectives, according to the charges.

Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com