Failed church bomber charged again

Greg Tuttle

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 10:54 a.m.

One day after he was ordered released from a mental hospital, James Carbullido was back in front of a federal judge facing new charges related to a string of failed attacks on Mormon churches.

Carbullido, 45, was charged with arson Tuesday in U.S. District Court, the second time he has been charged in connection with a string of homemade bombs planted at facilities owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Las Vegas Valley.

A federal judge ordered Carbullido released on his own recognizance Tuesday after rejecting arguments from prosecutors he should be considered dangerous.

The case began in 1998 when the first of nine crude bombs made from milk jugs and gasoline was found at a Mormon church. Two of the bombs caused minor damage, but the rest failed to ignite and no one was injured.

Carbullido was arrested last summer after investigators tracked him through fingerprints found on notes claiming responsibility for the bombs. He was charged with attempted arson, but in March he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

The insanity plea was based on experts for both the defense and prosecutors who said Carbullido suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, partly based on his claims that he was directed by a voice in his head to attack Mormon churches and members. He was sentenced to a mental health hospital in New York for treatment.

On Monday U.S. District Judge David Hagen ordered Carbuliddo released from the hospital after a doctor said he no longer suffered from a mental illness.

The condition was most likely caused by the use of methamphetamine, the doctor said, and without the drug Carbullido is healthy.

Hours later, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Connell filed a new charge against Carbullido accusing him of arson. At the initial appearance Tuesday, O'Connell said Carbullido should be detained pending trial because he still poses a danger.

Defense attorney Shari Kaufman said Carbullido should be released because doctors have determined he is not dangerous.