Texan faces 30 years on charges stemming from bomb discovery

Karen Zekan

Thursday, April 1, 1999 | 11:28 a.m.

A Clark County federal grand jury has indicted a Texas man in connection with a bomb found Monday at the Greyhound bus station and for bomb-making materials found in his downtown motel room.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officials said the bomb found at the bus station was intended for an ATF employee.

The five-count indictment charges Frank Darwin Alexander with the attempted murder of an employee of the U.S. government, attempted arson by use of an explosive, unlawful manufacture of a destructive device and two counts of use of a firearm or destructive device during and in relation to a crime.

If convicted on the federal firearms and explosives charges, Alexander could be facing as much as 30 years in a federal penitentiary.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. O'Connell will prosecute Alexander.

Meanwhile, the Clark County District Attorney's office is expected to formally file charges against Alexander in Las Vegas Justice Court April 6, when the San Antonio man is arraigned in connection with eight counts of possession with the intent to manufacture explosives.

The eight counts stem from Alexander's arrest Sunday morning by Metro Police, who say they found eight bomb-making components inside the Budget Inn motel room the man had checked into on Friday.

Police said they were notified Sunday morning by a local mental health facility that Alexander was on the phone with them claiming to be thinking about making a bomb.

Officers found Alexander at a First Street pay phone and he brought them back to his motel room, where they found the components.

Subsequent investigation led police back to downtown Monday morning, where a package addressed to an ATF employee was found in the Greyhound bus station, 200 S. Main St., across from the hotel where Alexander was staying. ATF agent Tracy Hite said the package held a bomb.

Alexander is also reported to be under investigation by U.S. postal inspectors for a bomb that exploded on a conveyor belt inside a Dallas bulk mail center.

The wrapped package, authorities said, was intended for a San Antonio religious leader.