FARMINGTON — Chris Andrew Perry didn’t show up in court Monday to the surprise of the judge and attorneys.
But it turns out he had an excuse: He was already in jail.
Perry, 18, had pleaded guilty to charges related to the explosion of four incendiary devices, known as “the Works bomb,” at different locations, including Bountiful High School.
Perry had pleaded guilty to third-degree felony possession of explosive parts on May 7 and was to be sentenced Monday.
But Perry was arrested Saturday on warrants issued by judges in 2nd District Court in Bountiful and in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City after he failed to show up for hearings on misdemeanor charges unrelated to the explosives.
Judge Michael Allphin issued a bench warrant for Perry’s arrest.
Defense attorney Rich Gallegos learned Perry was in jail after the Standard-Examiner contacted him.
“I need to get hold of the clerk before she issues that warrant,” Gallegos said.
Gallegos said if court personnel knew Perry was in jail, he would have been transported to court on Monday, but because the arrest happened over the weekend, “There is no way for the bailiff to know that.”
Gallegos had left the courtroom several times to see if Perry was in the hallway. Gallegos also tried to call Perry on his cellphone to find out why he was not in court.
Perry was originally charged with three counts of an explosive device, second-degree felonies.
Police said Perry and a girl set off the incendiary devices.
One of those devices was set off at the school and caused officials to put the school into lockdown for about 90 minutes while police searched the building and the school grounds for more devices. No one was hurt and there was no damage done by any of the explosives, which were made with toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil.
Deputy Davis County Attorney Rick Westmoreland said the sentencing recommendation from Adult Probation and Parole was for Perry to serve 120 days in jail.
“This is not a bad kid,” Westmoreland said. “He just made stupid mistake.”
Westmoreland and Gallegos said Perry has personal issues that led him to make the explosives.
Perry has “had it rough the last couple of years,” Gallegos said. “His family has some stability issues.”
Comments