Officials: East Texas man charged in mailbox explosives case being questioned about 36 devices

East Texas man charged in mailbox explosives case

DALLAS — A man acccused of dropping explosive devices into east Texas mailboxes is believed to be responsible for 36 devices placed in 23 locations, federal authorities said Thursday.

Larry Eugene North could face 10 years in prison if convicted of charges of possessing an illegal firearm or destructive device, U.S. Attorney John M. Bales said in a statement.

North was identified while placing an explosive in a Tyler mailbox on Wednesday and was arrested and indicted that day, Bales said.

Robert R. Champion, federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent, said officials believe North is responsible for all 36 devices. Authorities previously said they had found at least 16 explosive devices, including five pipe bombs.

No injuries or explosions resulted from the devices planted between Feb. 5 and April 7. The spate of discoveries kept people in east Texas on edge for weeks — especially considering the region recently had been hit by a series of church arsons starting Jan. 1.

North, 52, of Henderson, remained jailed without bond before his initial court appearance Thursday. Court officials didn’t know whether he had an attorney yet.

The indictment accuses North of possessing a pipe bomb on or about March 23 — the same day one was found in a mailbox near Carolyn Smith’s home in the small community of Laird Hill, about 25 miles east of Tyler.

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.”