Salem boys face charges in pipe bombing

STAFF REPORT

SALEM — The Columbiana County Prosecutor’s office has filed a delinquency charge against two Salem boys who police said set off a pipe bomb that penetrated a home on Sunset Drive.

Denise Weingart, an assistant prosecutor assigned to county juvenile court, said Monday the boys, who are 15 and 13, respectively, were charged with arson, a fourth-degree felony if committed by an adult. Youths who allegedly commit a felony are formally charged in juvenile court with being delinquent.

The pipe bomb was set off in a mailbox at about 1:29 a.m. July 27. It flew out of the box, traveled about 50 yards before striking the house, said Police Chief Robert Floor.

It went through the wall of the house, across a room and struck an inside wall.

One of two women who lived in the house then tossed the pipe bomb’s remains outside. No one was injured.

Neither youth has a record. No hearing date has been set.