Kingsport businessman pleads not guilty to pipe bomb charges
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) – A Kingsport businessman accused of bombing his competitor’s office in Johnson City earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to arson and three counts of possession of a pipe bomb.
The Johnson City Press (http://bit.ly/1K9KWch ) reports that Christopher Alexander entered his pleas on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Greeneville.
A federal prosecutor says Alexander bombed a Johnson City prosthetics store July 5 after the store’s owners accused Alexander of over-charging his customers. No one was hurt in the incident.
Police say after the bomb detonated, officers found a pipe bomb inside Alexander’s van and inside his home.
If convicted, Alexander faces 20 years in prison on the arson charge and a 10-year sentence on each pipe bomb possession charge. Alexander will remain in custody pending his Sept. 29 trial.
