VERMONT

Northfield blast suspect denies charge

Elizabeth Murray
Free Press Staff Writer
Mark McCloud of Northfield arrives at U.S. District Court in Burlington on Monday, December 21, 2015. McCloud lost his hand in the explosion of a homemade pipe bomb on December 10th. McCloud has been accused through a federal complaint of possessing and transferring an unregistered explosive. Investigators said McCloud lit what he thought was a firecracker outside his home in Northfield on Dec. 9. The resulting explosion caused him to lose one of his hands and injured several others around him, including his wife, police have said.

A federal defense lawyer stood next to an empty seat Monday in U.S. District Court in Burlington during a hearing for Mark McCloud, whom police and prosecutors say lit a homemade pipe bomb outside his home and lost a hand.

McCloud, 45, of Northfield waived his right to appear in court for his arraignment, lawyer Elizabeth Quinn explained to federal Magistrate Judge John Conroy during the brief hearing. A federal grand jury had returned a one-count indictment late last week, charging McCloud with knowingly possessing a "destructive device" not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Conroy entered a plea of not guilty on McCloud's behalf.

Quinn, who was standing in for McCloud's attorney, David McColgin, said nothing about why McCloud skipped the court appearance Monday. Attempts to reach McColgin after the hearing  were unsuccessful.

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Conroy gave lawyers until April to file pretrial motions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Doyle said the government is conducting forensic examination of the device that exploded Dec. 9. Conroy said the trial will take place in Rutland, but no trial date was scheduled Monday.

The Dec. 9 explosion on North Street injured McCloud and several others, including his pregnant wife, according the authorities. McCloud told investigators he was holding what he believed to be a firecracker when he lit the device outside his home, according to court papers. State and federal law enforcement have classified the device as a "homemade pipe bomb."

A photo included in the affidavit and complaint for Mark McCloud shows a picture of a second explosive found.

McCloud lost his left hand in the explosion.

McCloud told investigators he had received multiple explosives from a family friend and had not realized their power until it was too late. He also said he had given several of the 11 or 12 explosives to friends but kept the biggest ones for himself.

The Northfield man remains free on conditions while his case is pending. The criminal charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

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Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LizMurraySMC.