A man charged with planting an explosive device under his former landlord’s lawnmower pleaded not guilty at his preliminary hearing yesterday at district court in Westmoreland County.
A judge ruled yesterday that 54-year-old James Sever will stand trial on charges of attempted homicide, weapons of mass destruction and others for the July 20th explosion in Salem Township. Police say he placed a pipe bomb on the back of the lawnmower and rigged it with fishing line. The bomb exploded, injuring the victim, Dave Martin, and damaging other items. Police also said that Sever confessed to the crime after over two hours of interrogation. Sever was captured on September 16th by an off-duty State Trooper who found him on the Hoodlebug Trail just south of Homer City.
The motive behind the attack was a dispute between Sever and his landlord that resulted in Sever being evicted from his home. While Sever was on the run, the home that he rented from the landlord was destroyed in a fire. The blaze was deemed suspicious in nature but charges were not filed against Sever in this case.
As Sever was leaving the courthouse, he said he was the victim in the case and denied that he confessed to state police and made several claims against Martin that he later said were false.
Bail was denied for Sever. He remains in Westmoreland County Jail. A formal arraignment hearing is set for November 19th.
