East Texas man charged in mailbox explosives case

By SCHUYLER DIXON (AP) – 3 hours ago

DALLAS — Federal officials say a man suspected in a string of explosive
devices dropped into east Texas mailboxes is being questioned about 36
devices placed in 23 locations.

U.S. Attorney John M. Bales said in a statement Thursday that
52-year-old Larry Eugene North could face 10 years in prison if
convicted on charges of possessing an illegal firearm or destructive device.

North was indicted Wednesday. Bales says North was identified placing an
explosive in a Tyler mailbox on Wednesday. Federal Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesman Tom Crowley says the 36
devices were planted between Feb. 5 and April 7.

No injuries were reported because of the devices.

North has an initial court appearance Thursday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.
AP's earlier story is below.

DALLAS (AP) — Carolyn Smith was so frightened after explosive devices
started turning up in mailboxes in east Texas that she stopped dropping
her mail in the nearby collection box where one pipe bomb was found and
started taking it to the post office.

Like other residents of east Texas, the 71-year-old substitute teacher
was relieved to hear about an arrest in the case, even as she waited for
details from a news conference scheduled for Thursday morning. Although
none of the explosive devices ever detonated, they had many in the
region on edge, especially because the incidents followed a string of
church fires in the area.

The arrest was announced the same day a federal grand jury in Tyler
indicted Larry Gene North, 52, of Henderson in Rusk County, on a single
count of unlawfully possessing a pipe bomb. North was confined without
bond to the Smith County Jail in Tyler on a federal retainer, according
to the jail database. No attorney was listed for him.

Neither Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesman
Tom Crowley nor U.S. Postal Inspector Amanda McMurrey would confirm the
connection between the indictment and Wednesday's arrest. However, the
indictment accuses North of possessing the pipe bomb on or about March
23 — the same day one was found in a mailbox near Smith's home in the
small community of Laird Hill, about 25 miles east of Tyler.

Also, U.S. Attorney John M. Bales said earlier that the man who was
arrested was from Rusk County, just east of Tyler and about 140 miles
east of Dallas. Bales would not provide additional details until
Thursday's news conference.

Before Wednesday, authorities said they had found at least 14 explosive
devices, including five pipe bombs, over the past several weeks. ATF
officials have said they believe most of the incidents are related.

No injuries were reported because of the devices, and authorities have
maintained there was no immediate threat to the public.

Smith said she was "tickled to death to hear" about the arrest. "I am
very relieved. Very," she added.

Still, she said she would continue to take her mail to the rural post
office near her home.

The first reports of incendiary devices in mailboxes involved bottles
containing flammable liquids and wicks, authorities said. Devices
resembling pipe bombs then started turning up, which raised the sense of
danger felt by 27-year-old Longview resident Robert Ziemba. One pipe
bomb was found in a mailbox on a busy street in Longview.

"With pipe bombs, you never know," Ziemba said. "It could be in your
backyard. It could be in your neighbor's backyard. You don't know where
it's going to be."

Reports of the incendiary devices surfaced soon after the arrests in
late February of two men suspected in a monthlong spree of arsons at
east Texas churches that started Jan. 1.

The men are charged in one fire and suspected of intentionally setting
nine others. They are being held on $10 million bond apiece and could
face life in prison if convicted.

Smith said she wondered what was next for east Texas after the church
fire and mailbox incidents followed so closely, each lasting a month
without any arrests.

"My neighbor and I were just talking about that," Smith said. "It'll be
some off-the-wall something. I hope this stops it. Period."
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