goddess_nemesis
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Parents Charged in Teen Pipe Bomb Spree
Southern metro mailbox explosions; parents faulted
Published : Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 1:42 PM CDT
Stemming form the investigation of a rash of pipe bombs allegedly used by teens to detonate mailboxes in Scott and Dakota Counties last summer, two Prior lake parents are charged and face 13 years in prison.
Robert Joseph Masters, 48, and his wife, Roberta Lynn Masters, 52 were charged with face felony charges of possessing explosive devices and helping the teens to conceal a crime.
Charges also are pending against multiple juveniles allegedly involved in the explosions.
The criminal complaints claim the Masters allegedly purchased the products used in making the bombs, and they allowed the teens to build the bombs in the garage of their Prior Lake home. The Masters face aiding an offender charges for allegedly attempting to help the teens conceal facts from investigators.
A four-month investigation was undertaken by the Sheriff’s Office tracing the spree of mailbox bombings at homes in and Burnsville, Credit River Township and Lakeville.
The first mailbox bombing was reported on May 31, after deputies were called to the 8700 block of Legends Club Drive in Credit River Township. A complaint that a cast-iron mailbox had been blown up was registered. Law enforcement officers noticed remains of an explosive device in the vicinity.
The victim told detectives that a child in the family had ongoing problems with a 17-year-old Prior Lake boy, who was a classmate, the criminal complaint stated. The homeowner was concerned about the vandalism because the home was previously egged and struck with paintballs that were set on fire.
Soon after, Burnsville Police responded to a mailbox that was blown up in the 15000 block of Willa Court in Burnsville. Police believed the damage was caused by an explosive device.
A neighbor in the latter mailbox bombing heard the explosion at about 1 a.m. June 13. A witness told detectives the vehicle was driving in the neighborhood in previous days . The witness got the license plate of the vehicle, and police traced the vehicle and a previous traffic citation to the Prior Lake boy suspected in the previous mailbox bombing.
The Bloomington Bomb Squad to remove a 6- to 8-inch pipe bomb from a mailbox on the 22000 block of Red Fox Drive in New Market Township June 14.
Investigators believe the group of juveniles were involved in six or more mailbox bombings, according to the complaint. The boys said in police interviews at first they were placing the pipe bombs in random mailboxes, but eventually in mailboxes of people they were familiar with.
The Masters purchased a pound of muzzle-loader gunpowder on a credit card on two more occasions at Mills Fleet Farm in Lakeville. Gunpowder cannot be purchased by a minor.
An involved teen’s parents told detectives that Robert Masters called to explain the situation and stated the boys were being investigated for blowing up mailboxes. Robert Masters apologized to the parent because he said it was his gunpowder that was used and he taught the boys how to make smoke bombs, but the teens escalated to building pipe bombs.
The Prior Lake boy cliams he drove to every mailbox bombing location. The young suspects also said the bombings were another 16-year-old Prior Lake boy’s idea and the Masters supplied the materials. A teen also told detectives that both Robert and Roberta Masters knew the boys were building bombs and told the them to be careful though stated he didn’t think the Masters knew the boys were blowing up mailboxes.
One of the teens’ parents claimed the Masters believed it “a good educational tool” for the children to build pipe bombs.
Masters allegedly informed other parents that the children were allowed to blow up the pipe bombs in the backyard and could bring some of the bombs to bonfires. One of the teens also stated that Roberta Masters directed the boys to youtube.com and learn how to make the bombs. Masters also stated she did not want the police to parenting their children and suggested all the families with children involved in the bombings get together and not talk with police until they get “their stories straight” and speak with the victims.
Police seized 22 items during a warranted search of the Masters' home, including PVC pipe similar to that found at the crime scenes, illegal fireworks, funnels with suspected gunpowder residue and combustibles in the family’s fire pit.
If convicted, Robert and Roberta Masters each face a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or $20,000 in fines for possession of explosive devices. They each also face a maximum of three years in prison and/or $5,000 in fines for aiding and abetting an offender.
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That was real smart, teaching your kids how to build pipe bombs. What did you think would happen? 🙄
Southern metro mailbox explosions; parents faulted
Published : Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 1:42 PM CDT
Stemming form the investigation of a rash of pipe bombs allegedly used by teens to detonate mailboxes in Scott and Dakota Counties last summer, two Prior lake parents are charged and face 13 years in prison.
Robert Joseph Masters, 48, and his wife, Roberta Lynn Masters, 52 were charged with face felony charges of possessing explosive devices and helping the teens to conceal a crime.
Charges also are pending against multiple juveniles allegedly involved in the explosions.
The criminal complaints claim the Masters allegedly purchased the products used in making the bombs, and they allowed the teens to build the bombs in the garage of their Prior Lake home. The Masters face aiding an offender charges for allegedly attempting to help the teens conceal facts from investigators.
A four-month investigation was undertaken by the Sheriff’s Office tracing the spree of mailbox bombings at homes in and Burnsville, Credit River Township and Lakeville.
The first mailbox bombing was reported on May 31, after deputies were called to the 8700 block of Legends Club Drive in Credit River Township. A complaint that a cast-iron mailbox had been blown up was registered. Law enforcement officers noticed remains of an explosive device in the vicinity.
The victim told detectives that a child in the family had ongoing problems with a 17-year-old Prior Lake boy, who was a classmate, the criminal complaint stated. The homeowner was concerned about the vandalism because the home was previously egged and struck with paintballs that were set on fire.
Soon after, Burnsville Police responded to a mailbox that was blown up in the 15000 block of Willa Court in Burnsville. Police believed the damage was caused by an explosive device.
A neighbor in the latter mailbox bombing heard the explosion at about 1 a.m. June 13. A witness told detectives the vehicle was driving in the neighborhood in previous days . The witness got the license plate of the vehicle, and police traced the vehicle and a previous traffic citation to the Prior Lake boy suspected in the previous mailbox bombing.
The Bloomington Bomb Squad to remove a 6- to 8-inch pipe bomb from a mailbox on the 22000 block of Red Fox Drive in New Market Township June 14.
Investigators believe the group of juveniles were involved in six or more mailbox bombings, according to the complaint. The boys said in police interviews at first they were placing the pipe bombs in random mailboxes, but eventually in mailboxes of people they were familiar with.
The Masters purchased a pound of muzzle-loader gunpowder on a credit card on two more occasions at Mills Fleet Farm in Lakeville. Gunpowder cannot be purchased by a minor.
An involved teen’s parents told detectives that Robert Masters called to explain the situation and stated the boys were being investigated for blowing up mailboxes. Robert Masters apologized to the parent because he said it was his gunpowder that was used and he taught the boys how to make smoke bombs, but the teens escalated to building pipe bombs.
The Prior Lake boy cliams he drove to every mailbox bombing location. The young suspects also said the bombings were another 16-year-old Prior Lake boy’s idea and the Masters supplied the materials. A teen also told detectives that both Robert and Roberta Masters knew the boys were building bombs and told the them to be careful though stated he didn’t think the Masters knew the boys were blowing up mailboxes.
One of the teens’ parents claimed the Masters believed it “a good educational tool” for the children to build pipe bombs.
Masters allegedly informed other parents that the children were allowed to blow up the pipe bombs in the backyard and could bring some of the bombs to bonfires. One of the teens also stated that Roberta Masters directed the boys to youtube.com and learn how to make the bombs. Masters also stated she did not want the police to parenting their children and suggested all the families with children involved in the bombings get together and not talk with police until they get “their stories straight” and speak with the victims.
Police seized 22 items during a warranted search of the Masters' home, including PVC pipe similar to that found at the crime scenes, illegal fireworks, funnels with suspected gunpowder residue and combustibles in the family’s fire pit.
If convicted, Robert and Roberta Masters each face a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or $20,000 in fines for possession of explosive devices. They each also face a maximum of three years in prison and/or $5,000 in fines for aiding and abetting an offender.
-----
That was real smart, teaching your kids how to build pipe bombs. What did you think would happen? 🙄
