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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
March 9, 2009
HAYS MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CONSTRUCTING A BOMB
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Donald E. Parsons, 57, Hays, Kan., has been sentenced to 120 months for planting a bomb under the car of a man who was living with a woman Parsons used to date, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker said today.
Parsons pleaded guilty in December 2008 to one count of making a destructive device. On May 16, 2007, officers of the Lawrence Police Department received a call from a man who said he found a pipe bomb hanging from the undercarriage of his truck. The bomb was made of metal pipe, two pounds of smokeless powder, bolts, screws, ball bearings, black electrical tape and a detonator made from a mouse trap.
In his plea, Parsons admitted that he and the intended victim had dated the same woman before the woman broke off the relationship with Parsons and began living with the other man. Investigators served search warrants at the home of Parsons’ family in Ellis County. They found tools and materials used in constructing the bomb. In Hays, Kan., they served a search warrant at the office of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, where Parsons worked. They found an article discussing explosive detonators. On Parsons’ home computer, they found records of Internet searches related to manufacturing bombs. Investigators were able to use store security video footage to show that Parsons purchased parts used in the bomb at a Westlake Hardware store in Hays.
Parker commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead and the agencies that participated in the investigation including:
– The Lawrence Police Department
– The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
– The Overland Park Bomb Unit
– The Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Department
– The Hays Police Department
– The Ellis County Sheriff
– The Osborne County Sheriff
– The Russell County Sheriff
– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation
– The Kansas Highway Patrol
– The Kansas State Fire Marshal.
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