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Police: Suspect collected bombs
Photo
Jack Amato Jr.
The defendant contends his probation officer said he could have guns.
LISBON — Authorities have released a photo of bombs they seized from the room of a man awaiting trial in the killing of his wife.
The photo shows pipe bombs, ball and lightbulb-shaped containers with fuses, and CO2 cartridges with fuses.
The photo also shows a coil of fuse and two cans of black power used in some weapons.
The explosives and five guns were discovered Sept. 17 when authorities executed a search warrant at the Irondale home of Dr. Jack Amato.
His son, Jack C. Amato Jr., is awaiting trial in the 2007 shooting death of his wife in their Wellsville home.
Authorities have the slug — but are still searching for the weapon — that killed Tonia Amato.
Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Andy Sweeney stated in his court filing that the bombs are in the possession of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
He said in the filing that there were about 18 bombs and parts. He could not be reached.
Five guns and ammunition were found in the defendant’s bedroom.
Amato Jr. is being held at the county jail on a $100,000 bond. He has been charged with possession of a dangerous ordnance.
Atty. Lynn A. Grimshaw of Wheelersburg has been appointed special prosecutor in the case against Amato Jr.
Robert Herron, the county prosecutor, stepped aside because he represents the county board of health on which Dr. Amato serves.
Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, who is hearing the case, denied a bid by Amato Jr. to be taken off an electronic ankle monitor. As terms of his initial release, he was allowed to live with his father while he wore the monitor.
Grimshaw, in a court filing, said that house arrest and electronic monitoring are, “insufficient to insure the safety of the public, in that it failed to keep firearms from the defendant and more ominously, it failed to prevent the defendant from possessing various explosive devices.”
Atty. James Hartford, Amato Jr.’s lawyer, has stated in a court filing that his clients’ adult probation officer had said the defendant could have guns.
Jeffrey Miller, the head of the county probation department, declined to comment on the claim.
Generally, people awaiting trial for violent crimes or who have felony convictions can’t have firearms.
The next hearing in the case is set for 1 p.m. Oct. 24
The case is set to for trial Feb. 17.
wilkinson@vindy.com