United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 15 YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE,
FOR EXPLODING A PIPE BOMB AT LOCAL MOTEL IN ATTEMPT TO KILL WIFE

DALLAS — Donald Calhoun, 44, of Grand Prairie, Texas, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to a total of 188 months (approximately 15.5 years) in federal prison for possession of a destructive device (pipe bomb) and arson, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Specifically, Calhoun pleaded guilty, in January 2009, to one count of unlawful possession of an illegally manufactured destructive device and one count of arson.

According to documents filed in the case, on February 18, 2008, Calhoun went to the Tourist Court Motel, located at 1124 East Main Street in Grand Prairie, where his estranged wife lived, and threatened to kill her at the motel. Calhoun told her and other tenants that he was going to come back and bomb her motel room. That night, Calhoun returned home and built a pipe bomb. The following day, he went back to his wife’s room at the Tourist Court Motel with the pipe bomb and bombed her room in an attempt to kill her. He then fled the location.

Afterwards, officers searched Calhoun’s home and found the makings of a pipe bomb. They also found materials in the home that were identical to those used in the bombing at the motel. Officers also located another pipe bomb in a nearby location with Calhoun’s fingerprint on it. Calhoun also had injuries on his hands from building the pipe bomb.

Calhoun’s wife was not at the motel when Calhoun exploded the pipe bomb.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Grand Prairie Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and Gary Tromblay.

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