LOS ANGELES (AP) — Court files show that the man behind the crudely produced anti-Islamic video that sparked violence in the Middle East changed his name a decade ago, saying his given name was a girl's name.
The 2002 file obtained from Orange County Superior Court on Friday show that 55-year-old Nakoula Basseley Nakoula changed his name to Mark Basseley Youssef.
Nakoula wrote that he wanted to change his name because, he said, Nakoula was a girl's name and caused him trouble.
Nakoula was arrested Thursday for violating probation on a 2010 bank fraud conviction.
Federal officials say he is behind the 14-minute trailer insulting Islam that has inflamed the Middle East.
Nakoula was convicted in the bank fraud case and appeared in court Thursday under his original name.
