By By LISA TINDELL – News reporter
Gregory Wendall Nichols remains in custody at the Escambia County Detention Center on a $100,00 bond following a pair of arrests stemming from the discovery of pipe bombs in his vehicle on July 5 in Flomaton.
Nichols, 45, of 261 Powell Circle in Flomaton faced a federal court judge on charges of possession of an unregistered explosive device. Following the hearing, Nichols was released on his own recognizance on Thursday afternoon, July 6.
Flomaton Police, the Escambia County Sheriff's Department and the 21st Judicial Task Force worked quickly to bring Nichols back into custody on Friday, July 7, to be detained on the state class C felony charges. The charge listed on the arrest record was for unlawful possession of explosives.
According to Mike Messenger, an agent with the Alabama Department of Tobacco and Firearms, who assisted in the original arrest, Nichols faces state charges of manufacturing of an explosive device in addition to the federal and other state charges.
Messenger said Nichols gave consent to search his residence on Powell Circle in Flomaton where the discovery of bomb materials was found.
Although more than 20 firearms were found at the Nichols residence, no charges were filed in connection with possession of the weapons, Flomaton Police Chief Mike Lambert said.
A detention hearing scheduled Tuesday in Mobile was continued by a federal judge.