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CNN Live Today

Pipe Bomb Suspect Awaits Federal Charges

Aired May 10, 2002 - 14:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Twenty-one-year-old college student Luke Helder about to face the first of several federal charges, arising from the five-state mailbox bomb spree. He is accused in that, and Jeff Flock, covering the case, awaiting there outside the courtroom there in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Jeff, good afternoon.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, hello to you.

It's going to be a little bit of a wait, as we reported the last hour. Pushed back a bit, about a two hour delay.

Off in the distance, perhaps you'll see, this is the Linn County jail, the more modern of the two buildings. That is where Luke Helder will be held and presumably for awhile, it's going to take awhile.

This is just an initial appearance here today at he federal courthouse, and then he will be headed back to the jail, and then who knows when the next court date will be.

It is expected that they'll bring him on through this way, off to the loading dock at the federal courthouse here in Cedar Rapids. That is expected to be where he will be off-loaded once he finally gets here, but he has not even left Reno yet, we are told.

Now, when he gets here, he will go before the local magistrate, the federal magistrate, I should say. His name is John Jarvey (ph). Also, we have learned that Helder has now had a public defender appointed for him. No word on whether he'll stick with that defense or get his own attorney. But for now, Jane Kelley (ph) from the U.S. Public Defender's Office will be representing him, at least today.

When the next court date will be, that we don't know. But this, of course, is just an initial appearance on these two counts, this criminal complaint here, two counts, one of basically using an explosive to destroy mailboxes, and the second one, using bombs to commit a violent act. And that, of course, is the one that's got the real teeth in it, a 30-year minimum prison sentence, and a life maximum.

That is the latest from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bill. It's going to be awhile, so we'll be back to you when we know more.

HEMMER: We shall be patient, Jeff. Thanks. Jeff Flock, in Iowa.

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