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Jacob Dillion Hostetter, 17, was charged with class C felony possession of an explosive device and two counts of class D felony knowingly exploding a device, according to court documents released by the Saline County Sheriff's Department.
Sheriff's deputies received a report Saturday from rural Malta Bend residents who said their mailbox had been destroyed.
They told deputies they had heard an explosion that rattled the windows of their home.
Deputies discovered the remains of a homemade pipe bomb made of PVC tubing and fireworks, according to the report.
During the investigation another report came in from a Grand Pass resident who also reported a mailbox destroyed by an explosive device.
While driving in the area, a deputy encountered three trucks, one of which was driven by Hostetter.
The deputy said he observed empty fireworks boxes in the bed of the truck. After questioning, Hostetter allegedly showed the deputy an unexploded device made of PVC tubing and fireworks.
The sheriff's department contacted the Missouri Fire Marshal's office and an investigator responded to the scene.
The investigator determined the device was too dangerous to dismantle, deputies said, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol bomb squad was called in to dispose of it. A portion of the road was temporarily closed as a precaution.
If convicted of the possession charge, Hostetter could face up to seven years in a Missouri Department of Corrections facility, one year in county jail and up to a $5,000 fine.
If convicted of the exploding a device charges, he could face up to four years in a Missouri Department of Corrections facility, one year in county jail and up to a $5,000 fine.
Hostetter was held in lieu of $5,000 bond.
Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net
Comments
I am just getting in on this story. I believe this world is lacking compasion for this young man. It sounds like "He must Pay!!" I have read about his under disciplined upbringing, his familys money,his mischievous behavior,and so on... Are there grudges to be held? It sounds like Waverly,MO. is like any other small town. We know the story. Were we all young and stupid at sometime? Do we have children of our own that at certain times let us down? Have we not learnt it is not our place to judge a child or his upbringing so that it might not blow up {no pun intended}in our own face.Why don't we all say a prayer of thanksgiving no one was injured and for those who had their mailboxes blown up,and that this boy, Dillion grows into a wiser young man. Pray for all the youth. They need it. Hey, we all do!
Well said "two sides"!
My point all along has been that we KNOW what he did wasn't right, but we also KNOW most of us who have lived around here have done this or more as kids. Or at the very least knew someone who did.
I can't believe how judgemental people have become. I'm willing to bet, most every one of the people here who think Dillon deserves the "book thrown at him" have some family member, whether close or distant, that has done something they shouldn't have. If you don't, you are either dillusional, or lucky you!
By the way...the mailboxes were replaced...the next day. And he's done physical labor for one victim on the hottest day of the week..on purpose.
Sounds like he's getting off scott free doesn't it? And his parents aren't finished yet. So the next time you think Dillon isn't being disciplined, think again. Just because you don't see everything, doesn't mean you KNOW whats going on.
And NO, I"m not a member of his family....but I do know them very well! Give them a break. This is hard enough without all the finger pointing.
"All of you talking like he needs to be thrown in the pen have most likely done something as stupid and illegal in your lifetime"
Of course they have. it's just that it is sooo rewarding to the sense of self to play judge, jury and executioner. Bigger, badder, tougher.. they feel the need to send dangerous criminals off to prison with the stroke of a pen.
This has been drilled into the country's psyche by years of TV brainwashing. Cop and robbers shows, good guys and bad guys, "24".. Everyone's a terrorist. The world has to be saved by the end of the show. Heros are 'forced' to torture. Fourteen year old kids with firecrackers are terrorist.
Everything is TV fantasy. It's colosseum.. feeding our neighbors to the lions. We have become a prison planet and some can't get there fast enough. The ultimate goal is to have us all in jail. If you have a pulse you must be a terrorist. Kids being kids feed the system and for some it isn't harsh enough unless their lives are completely destroyed. Power is intoxicating..
Just a boy being a boy and not using his head! All of you talking like he needs to be thrown in the pen have most likely done something as stupid and illegal in your lifetime -
We'd all be in the pen if we got caught for everything that we have done.
He needs to learn a lesson - replace the boxes - do some community service - pay a whopping fine - and let that be that.
Call it a slap on the wrist if you will - but, lets be real - do you think you tax dollars will be well spent feeding and supporting Dillon in the pen????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oipHDxBxf...
'Nuff said
OMG- you got me-propane does not have anything to do with meth production. I was thinking of the propane-like anhydrous tanks we see everywhere in fields during spraying season. My apology.
I was definitely on my pedestal, like many of you seem to be, and didn't look back to realize my error. I appreciate you pointing this out!
I don't want to see a kids life destroyed by this. He did a bad thing. He knows it. He also knows he is going to pay for it, for a very long time. But, a felony isn't going to go away. Misdemeanor would be much more in line for the type of crime this is. And I HAVE asked questions to several people who are experts in this area. So, I have done my homework.
Let me make it clear as well. I have utmost respect for EVERY level of law enforcement. They do not make the laws, but do have to carry them out. I wouldn't want their jobs for anything in the world.
But I do hope when the time comes for the punishment to be doled out, those with that power, keep in mind what this could do to this boy. Give him enough to make him pay attention, but don't destroy him. Its a fine line, I know.
Thanks for complement on the name....I like it.
What the bomb was made of doesn't make it any less of a bomb. I think from reading past news articles fertilizer make a really big bomb. By the way nice name (shock&awe) to defend this kid and his actions. And by the way tell us what exactly does propane have to do with a methamphetamine lab?
I've known this family many years....and for someone to say these boys aren't monitored and disciplined is ridiculous. While Dillons parents do not disagree that Dillon should and WILL be disciplined, the charges the Saline County Police are inflicting do not in any way fit the crime.
Dillon was NOT building bombs...we are NOT under terroist attack....and his biggest mistake is not thinking about how these sparkler bombs could be viewed in the eyes of the law. It is VERY clear Saline County is trying to make an example out of this child. And that is just wrong. Felony charges are carried with an individual their entire lives. Can people seriously think this is right to saddle a 17 year old kid with a felony for simply doing what many have done around here for years? I'm not saying it is right to destroy someones property...it most certainly isnt. I wish I had a dime for every mailbox my dad lost when I was a kid. This isn't something that has just started happening with the new class of teenagers. It wasn't a wise thing to do, but I'm sure if you ask Dillon he'd be the first to tell you, he regrets it. By the way, he replaced every mailbox very quickly.
IF Dillon was a continual nuisance to society that would be another matter. But we have plenty of those driving up and down the roads stealing propane and setting up meth labs, and there certainly doesn't appear to be much done on that matter.
Why don't the police spend more time actually going after all the meth labs that are set up around Saline County, and less time pushing for felony charges on something that deserves a misdemeanor charge at the very most.
First of all it was made with sparklers not c-4 or gun powder, yes it was dangerous but they were only sparklers. Second I went to school with someone who on his way home he hit every mail box between his house and town and the way they figured out it was him was he did not run over his own mailbox. The next week he replaced every one of those mailboxes and that was his punishment. Yes he got off easy but you know that was his only run in with trouble and I think this will be Dillon's last run in also.
I to know this kid and I know this kid has been in trouble at least one time before. I can not say that agree with prison time but I do think that jail time would do him some good I think they should go with the year in county. Dillon is old enough to know better and should be old enough to know that it was wrong of him to do. I just hope his parents realize this and dont try to buy him out of this trouble and allow him to face the consquiences.
i know the parents in this case and happen to KNOW that both of the hostetter boys have been raised right AND do get plenty of discipline! lets not forget that his father was quite the hell-raiser!he comes buy it honestly--boys will be boys, they didn't hurt anybody.
I am not saying it's not his fault or he is misunderstood. I am not disputing the point that he shouldn't go unpunished; He should have to make amends and pay for his crime. I wouldn't want anyone setting off bombs in my front yard either. He should get more than a slap on the wrist. But to set in jail for years (which I doubt he will, but according to the article he could face up to 7 years in jail) over setting off a small explosive in mailboxes...please think about, you blew up some mail boxes and mail, not hurting anybody so you have to set in jail for years during the time you should be graduating high school and learning a profession. Look at the end result; If he is punished in such a manor that he really regrets and is miserable (a week or two in jail and a ton of community service + probation) but is still allowed to graduate and learn a profession to become a contributing member of society aren't we all better off than having another young man who was education by convicts who is roaming around and getting into more trouble later?
I know one young fellow whose life was destroyed by something similar. He came from a good family and was a promising person. Then, when his judgment failed and he did a stupid thing like this, he sat behind bars. The college days came and went, his friends and girlfriend became educated, matured, and moved on to marry and enjoy kids; he sat in jail.
His parents and siblings went from going to Indian Foothills Park on weekends or out to dinner on occasion to driving to where he was in jail to stand in line with the drug addicts, prostitutes and pimps who were parents of other inmates. . ..all for a brief visit. A sister was teased unmercifully in school about her jailbird brother, and even his older brother would leave a room if talk turned to juvenile detention. His prank placed his own family into a cultural abyss that none deserved and some never overcame.
Then, he finally got out and after drifting about, he has at least made a little something of his life. He never had the chance to see his potential or keep up with his friends because of that one, very stupid incident. He maintains a modest relationship with his family, but nobody can forget or forgive what he did to them- including himself.
Nonny- wasn't me or my kin and wasn't anybody folks in Marshall would know by the way.
This young man has had many instances throughout his school years of mischievous behaviors but has always been sneaky enough to get away with the mischief. Other children have been in trouble for some of his mischief. I have seen this young man say inappropriate things to others. According to his family, he has never done anything wrong. I don't believe that he needs a severity of sentencing but a shock treatment more than a slap on the hand certainly would be appropriate. This may be an instance when his family's money can't get him out of his trouble.
it goes to show you what our world is comming to when the state desides parents cant make there kids mind if i would of thought of doing something like that i would of found my butt acrossed the floor and i would of hoped the cops got to me before my parents did its sad what this world is comming to
Well, I understand this person is young and everyone makes mistakes. However, to compare a teen getting "mischievous" and "bashing a few mailboxes" with making and setting pipe bombs is a stretch. While I seriously doubt he will "rot in jail for years" over this, it should certainly not be treated as something silly or harmless either. We are all lucky the headlines aren't "Waverly Teen Killed By Pipe Bomb In Independence Day Prank" instead. Go to youtube and check out the videos of what these things are capable of. I sure wouldn't want one going off in my front yard.
IF he did it, whether his upbringing was less than perfect OR whether he did it alone... he is a criminal. Stop slapping these teens on the wrist and allowing them to blame everyone BUT themselves.
If there was mail in those boxes; I believe it is a federal crime. So, let's just have him rake leaves at the park...poor misunderstood youth. SIGH.
thats my boyfriend =(
and it wasnt just him involved.
I know this kid very well. He's a good-natured kid and hard worker but suffers from a mischievous mind and not a lot of parental discipline. Dillon may lack a bit in the sound judgment arena and hopefully this run in with the law will wise him up a bit.
Some kids beat in my mail box a while back and it ticked me off, they deserved a butt whopping but there is no way I would send them to jail for years over a stupid move such as that. The justice system may need to be harder on criminals but it can make a good kid bad (I know I worked in it). Hopefully Dillion gets enough community service to keep him busy for the next few years, to include an apology and repair of the damage he did to private property. But I'd hate to see a person rot in jail for years over a mailbox.
all i have to say on this is how dumb can a person be