IRS bomb suspect pleads guilty

Friday, March 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

In exchange for his plea and for Ellis Hurst's agreement to testify against others charged in the case, the government said it would seek leniency at Hurst's sentencing June 20, depending on his level of cooperation.

Hurst pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of conspiracy, attempted destruction of a government building and use of a explosive device while committing a violent crime.

All three counts carry a maximum of 55 years in prison. The count of using a destructive device while committing a violent crime alone requires a mandatory sentence of 30 years.

Hurst, 52, and Joseph Bailie, 40, both of Gardnerville, were charged with planting the bomb in December. The device fizzled.

Bailie is scheduled to go on trial June 3.

A third Gardnerville man, Jerry Keenan, has been indicted for lying to the grand jury that heard evidence against Bailie and Hurst.

U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben thoroughly questioned Hurst during Thursday's 40-minute hearing to make sure the defendant understood that he was surrendering his constitutional rights.

Hurst generally answered with a terse "Yes, your honor," or "No, your honor,"

When the judge asked if Hurst's plea was voluntary and that it would mean "a considerable balance of your life in prison," Hurst replied, "I have a big plate of crow to eat."

In the plea agreement, Hurst said he provided a hand truck used to wheel the bomb into a parking lot at the building on Dec. 17 and the pickup truck used to transport the device to Reno from Gardnerville, 50 miles to the south.

The bomb, contained in a 30-gallon white plastic drum and packed with 100 pounds of explosives, was found the following morning by an IRS employee arriving for work.

Agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI said a fuse had been lit, but the explosion failed because a blasting cap was not strong enough to detonate it.