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Pipe bombs for sale, 5 years in prison

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 9, 2006

A St. Petersburg man was sentenced to more than five years in prison Wednesday for making and selling pipe bombs.

John Irvin, 53, pleaded guilty to possession of destructive devices on July 25. According to court documents, he agreed to manufacture pipe bombs and sell them to an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Irvin provided the agent with several such devices between February and May 2006. Police said Irvin made the pipe bombs in his kitchen and the back of his rental house at 1035 11th Ave. S. Police say the pipe bombs were filled with gunpowder. Authorities found other ingredients used for making bombs when they searched the home. Irvin has been in trouble several times since moving to Florida, records show. In recent years, he has been arrested on charges of possessing drug paraphernalia, drinking in a city park and aggravated assault. U.S. District Judge James S. Moody sentenced Irvin to 70 months in prison Wednesday. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hoffer.

Lawyers fired over marijuana report

Two Hillsborough assistant state attorneys were fired Monday after reports surfaced they were present at a weekend gathering where marijuana was being used. Bethany Jackson, 26, and Derrick Valkenburg, 28, both relatively new attorneys in the juvenile division, have not been criminally charged. But Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said each of them was terminated for violating office policy during questioning. Jackson was terminated for knowingly failing to report a violation of Florida law. Valkenburg would not voluntarily submit to a drug screening, Bondi said, also in violation of office policy.

Couey trial is set: Feb. 12, Miami-Dade

The widespread demographic disparities between Citrus County and Miami weren't enough to sway a Citrus judge to pick another venue for John Couey's murder trial. Circuit Judge Ric Howard made it clear in court Wednesday that the trial of the man accused of killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford is on schedule for Feb. 12 in a Miami-Dade County courtroom. Couey's lawyers argued that moving the trial to South Florida clearly violates a state law requiring judges to place priority on choosing an area that resembles the original county's demographics.

71 marijuana plants seized in drug raid

In the ongoing war on drugs, deputies in Hernando, Citrus and Sumter made one of the largest raids this year, closing down at least nine marijuana growing houses on Tuesday and Wednesday and making a number of arrests. A news conference is scheduled today to outline the details of the sting. In Hernando, at least five people were charged with growing or conspiring to grow marijuana. The biggest stash was found at 15325 Peach Orchard Road, north of Brooksville. Deputies came across 71 marijuana plants, about 4 feet tall and weighing a total of 191 pounds.

[Last modified November 9, 2006, 05:29:01]