By Staff
from staff reports
A federal jury in Mobile County could not come to an agreement last week on a verdict for a Flomaton man charged with making bombs.
A judge declared a mistrial in the case, according to reports.
Gregory Wendall Nichols, 45, of 261 Powell Circle, was arrested July 5 following a vehicle stop at a convenience store located at the intersection of highways 31 and 113 in Flomaton.
At the time, Flomaton Police Chief Mike Lambert said Nichols said five homemade pipe bombs made from CO2 cartridges were found in Nichols' vehicle. Agents with the Alabama Department of Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives and Mobile's Bomb Squad were notified with the bomb squad securing and taking possession of the devices. Nichols was charged with possession of an unregistered explosive device, a federal offense, and unlawful possession of explosives, which is a class C felony in the state of Alabama.
With a mistrial declared, prosecutors will now have to decide whether to continue their case against Nichols. If the case continues and he is convicted, Nichols faces a prison term of three and a half to four and a quarter years.