Man jailed for possessing fake bombs, pleads not guilty

Monday, December 20, 2010

GREENCASTLE -- A Greencastle man was in court Monday for an initial hearing after he was arrested Friday for possessing fake bombs.

Police were called to the home of Robert Brian Elmore, 42, late Friday afternoon.

"We got some phone calls that (Elmore) was potentially making meth and maybe bombs," said Putnam County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Doug Nally.

Several police units were dispatched. Nally said no drugs were found on the premises, but that two fake bombs were discovered.

"They were made to look real," Nally said. "One was similar in appearance to a pipe bomb. The other was basically a canister with wires and stuff coming out of it that looked like it could possibly be detonated by some means."

Nally was hesitant to go into too much detail, and would say only that Elmore was the subject of an "ongoing investigation."

"There may be an element of intimidation," Nally said. "But to our knowledge, there hadn't been any threats made to anyone. (Elmore) had a purpose, but we don't believe anything he was planning to do was going to be aimed at the general public."

Elmore was arrested and charged with two counts of Class D felony possession of a hoax device. At an initial hearing on Monday, Putnam County Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges read the charges, and asked Elmore if the "devices" referred to in the charging information were hoax explosive devices.

Elmore simply shrugged.

A not guilty plea was entered on Elmore's behalf. Elmore told Bridges he had a seasonal job, and that he would not be back to work until April. As such, Elmore said, he would need pauper counsel.

"Once you start working again, you may have to hire your own (counsel)," Bridges said.

Bridges assigned Public Defender Scott Adams to Elmore's case.

Putnam County Deputy Prosecutor Jim Ensley asked that bond for Elmore be set at $20,000 cash only. Bridges set bond at $20,000 with 10 percent authorized or $17,500 surety.

Bridges ordered Elmore to be in court for a pretrial conference on Feb. 11.

Elmore's criminal history includes a 2004 conviction for Class D felony possession of a controlled substance.

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  • Wow Finally!!

    -- Posted by Mississippi on Mon, Dec 20, 2010, at 10:41 PM
  • The Indiana code reads as follows,

    IC 35-47.5-5-6

    Hoax devices or replicas

    Sec. 6. A person who:

    (1) manufactures;

    (2) possesses;

    (3) transports;

    (4) distributes; or

    (5) uses;

    a hoax device or replica with the intent to cause another to believe that the hoax device or replica is a destructive device or detonator commits a Class D felony.

    As added by P.L.123-2002, SEC.50.

    But Nally said, "There may be an element of intimidation, but to our knowledge, there hadn't been any threats made to anyone. (Elmore) had a purpose, but we don't believe anything he was planning to do was going to be aimed at the general public."

    While it's hard to imagine that he would fabricate such a device for any other reasons, there are apparently no parties involved that were intended to believe that these were destructive devices, so, exactly, what crimes were committed?

    -- Posted by westforty on Mon, Dec 20, 2010, at 11:18 PM
  • I was wondering the same thing. If he never used them to intimidate anyone, does the crime exist?

    -- Posted by BbridgeJC on Tue, Dec 21, 2010, at 11:46 AM
  • Dink!!!!!!!!!!!!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Dec 21, 2010, at 2:57 PM
  • @westforty: The statute merely speaks to the intent of the charged individual. There need not be a 'victim' who actually believed the hoax device was a destructive device. It would be interesting to see the probable cause affidavit to learn what -- if anything -- it claims was Elmore's intent.

    -- Posted by born_and_raised on Tue, Dec 21, 2010, at 4:23 PM
  • It was just a matter of time before Brian got busted for something, he is one shady character. This guy has been a danger to society since highschool . Maybe an in depth mental evaluation would be a good idea as well. Could the intimidation charges possibly stem from the multiple threats he has made to people?

    -- Posted by Roxybaby40 on Tue, Dec 21, 2010, at 7:11 PM
  • Agreed Roxybaby!

    -- Posted by Mississippi on Tue, Dec 21, 2010, at 7:57 PM
  • I agree completely UMad!!

    -- Posted by ruserious27 on Wed, Dec 22, 2010, at 12:58 PM
  • *

    Another stellar move for the PutCo Judiciary.

    While I admit that I have not read the Information (what got him arrested), I find it strange that the man apparently didnt threaten anyone, didnt have any explosives, and was only visited by the cops b/c someone(s) suspected him of making drugs & bombs.

    Westforty has a valid point. (As do others.)

    A sensible judge (again Im just armchairing from the limited information supplied) should've scolded the police/prosecutors for bothering this guy who was obviously minding his own business.

    But that would mean the judge actually cared about the Constitution (Federal & State) & didnt just apply the law without any thought.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts on Wed, Dec 22, 2010, at 1:56 PM
  • Well I am glad that I am not the only one that wondered about halloween costumes, or the kids playing in the yard with fakies, or what about my coffee can that I keep copper wire and other stuff in? Is that also a crime?

    In court Judge Bridges corrected the charges. They were not written correctly. He was not asking Brian a question. He was stating that it was suppose to read hoax explosive device or was it just a hoax device as it was written?

    The paper stated what happened here. The police were called to the residence(his mothers residence where he lives). WHo was at the residence to call? His mother and his brother were obviously at the residence, as the paper also failed to state that restraining orders were put against Brian for his mother and his brother.

    But wait a minute. Nally said he didn't threaten anyone. So whats with the restraining orders. Who victimized who here?

    Brian wasn't even home and rarely was. So the brother or the mother or both, called the police at least once before he was even present and they were probably told to call back when Brian arrived and they did. So when Brian pulled in I would assume they called the police again so that makes several calls right?

    It seems quite evil to me, that just because someone thinks your different, or doesn't like you, or doesn't get along with you, that they would go to all this trouble to see the other person toted off to jail for some bogus stuff that some people sat around and made up. What motivated these calls if Brian wasn't even there and how was he in possession of these items when they were found on his mothers premises?

    If Brian wasn't there, then who made this stuff? Or who put it there? Sounds to me like the people that manipulated, planned and plotted Brians demise, need the mental exams.

    And I would imagine that I would need medicated for anxiety if I had people so devious in my life. Someone said he was minding his own business. Brian hasn't had any charges since 2004. People can get over single incidences and move on without further problems.

    I didn't grow up with Brian, but I can say this. He is one of the only people that I know in this town that I would trust in my home for any extended period of time, and not have to worry about my personal property, my wife or husband or my money or my children being stolen. It seems to me the perception of the good son bad son here, is reversed.

    Anyone that can be so cold, calculating and manipulative when I was not present, would be the one I would worry about.

    I know Judge Bridges will see this for what it is.

    The PD has been given hand me cases to win here.

    So as far as him working to get the charges dropped, I don't see it. Hidden agendas will also fail. Let the truth fly!

    -- Posted by Hooray4Truth on Wed, Dec 22, 2010, at 3:31 PM
  • I know Brian and his relationship with his family very well. His brother hates him and his mother blames him for her marriage falling apart. Brian is the type of person that enjoys the shock value of things that he does. If you look into his life you would see that he comes from a controlling mother whom tries to controller every aspect of his life, He is 42 years old, and was married with a child that he lost in a divorce. He lives at home with his mother who daily demeans him and goes through his person stuff such as his room and even more weird his cloths drawers looking for anything she can find. Yes Brain has strange tendencies and if taking out of context can be thought of as mental or disturbed. Brian and his family have had a long history of family disagreements. From a third party point of view it seems that his family primary function in his life is to destroy him and demean him for everything he does.As for the hoax bomb deal I find that very funny that the police would actually arrest someone that even they admit did not pose a threat to anyone if it was indeed him who made them. Again a shock value. I am sorry but take a look out you office window Denny. I do believe there is a German bomb on a pedestal what does that say about the government system of our town. True that they are not related but I think that if the police raided Brians home and found fake bombs then they had better have had a good probable cause to arrest him for it. If they were found in a common area of the home such as anywhere but his room then it could have been placed there by anyone. True that Brians mother could allow the police into the home without a warrant because it is her home and she and the other son have no problem causing distress in his life, but ultimately if it was found in her home then she should be the one to take responsibility for the fake bombs. Although if by chance they found them in his room then they would have to have had a search warrant. Brians mother makes him pay rent for him to live there which makes his room a separate part of the house that she would have no right to allow the police to search. From what I have heard his mother has to be able to control some one in her life and as soon as he was removed from the house she started making phone calls to his ex-wife trying to get involved with her and brains daughters life now that Brian is out of the picture. I guess the crappy part of this deal is that the arrest was made and the court system here in this county will not admit they are wrong. Brian will be the victim of that and it is sad. As for Brian's family you two got your Christmas wish. Brian will not be home for Christmas. But I will say this your actions will not fix his issues only amplify the disgust that he has for you.

    -- Posted by Oh My Goodness on Fri, Dec 24, 2010, at 9:28 AM
  • He had 2 daughters and he gave up all rights to those girls!

    -- Posted by NPHS on Mon, Dec 27, 2010, at 11:42 AM
  • "Hooray4Truth " you are right in the respect that they will probably convict him on these wacky charges. I mean who pays for the Public pretender anyway. I believe that comes from the courts budget. The sad thing is he will be the victim of the system. Should they get a conviction .. hmm nope. There is no crime commited here. But will the Police or the issuing Judge say oops we screwed up .. no I doubt it. But I will say one thing when this is all over and done with and they get him to plead it out that some people will probably lose there jobs because of the manner in which they handle this case. It is a trumped up case to begin with and god knows the powers that be know better, but now it is in the public eye and well from their point of view he has to made an example of. If I were Brian I would take it to trial and let them convict him .. dont plea it out. then come back on appeal and then it would show the problems with our court/police system in this county and people will finally understand that there are people in place that should not be there. I love Denny to death as a STATE COP, cant say as much as a judge. kinda wierd how is he supposed to be unbias. secondly wonder if he has any fakies as they say at home.

    -- Posted by Oh My Goodness on Mon, Dec 27, 2010, at 1:17 PM
  • Obviously Hooray 4Truth you REALLY don't know Brian. I would NEVER trust that person around my kids or in my house.

    OH My Goodness

    Unless you live there and know exactly the truth don't be posting lies. He has Threatened his mother and a few other people. He has manipulated her since he was a teenager, HE ruined her marriage!

    -- Posted by Mississippi on Mon, Dec 27, 2010, at 2:11 PM
  • As of the last 20 years, Brian is a nuisance to society! There is a reason he is divorced. She has a better life now...and so do the girls. He chose to give them up! If they all stayed together, they would all be living in a life of drugs and abuse!

    His mom doesn't have control over anything...if he wanted out...he could move out and get on his on own. He needs to get out, clean himself up and make a new life for himself.

    -- Posted by Sunflowermel on Mon, Dec 27, 2010, at 3:15 PM
  • ANd if they wanted him out they could have asked him to move rather than call the swat team in saying I think he's doing this I think he's doing that. He wasn't even there. He drove by and they pulled him over. Do you live there missisippi? And you say he has threatened - he has he has so is that "he has" past tense? So what about this time. I did not see he did he did I saw he has. And even the police report said he threatened no one. So who is lying here? Sounds to me you were a part of this. Isn't conspiracy against the law? So are we judging him on events years past and what does that have to do with today? I believe he paid his dues for past events. And exactly what has he done recently that bothers the people in this society? And if his ex and girls have such a great life now then why can't they live and let live? I haven't heard anything about Brian bothering them or attempting to contact them. What I heard was it was his mother that was trying to contact her. Please if I am missing something here please let me know. But it is about this event not years past that you could so inform me of what I missing.

    -- Posted by Hooray4Truth on Tue, Dec 28, 2010, at 8:48 AM
  • "And if his ex and girls have such a great life now then why can't they live and let live?"....what are you talking about Hooray4Truth? Seems like you don't know what you are talking about. Are you part of the problem...or too close to the situation to know what is going on? Obviously NOT! Maybe you need to be the one to quit spreading lies! His ex is a very good friend of mine and she in now way has anything to do with him anymore! And it is definitely a GOOD thing. Maybe you are the one conspiring!!!

    -- Posted by Sunflowermel on Wed, Dec 29, 2010, at 12:00 AM
  • Brian seems to have an anger problem. Not only his own but with others toward him. It does not seem that it can get any worse at this point. Perhaps someday Brian will learn to free himself of this sickness (anger) and be more compassionate toward himself and others.

    In the mean time I don't believe it is wise to completely closed the door on Brian for those who have. I believe he would find health more quickly if he were on his own and the door I'm talking about is not anybody's accept his own door (he does not seem to have control of it). Your anger for him will always be there. I would suggest try wishing him well and if an opportunity presents itself, helping him toward being well. He is obviously sick from being angry and I'm sure he is tired of it.

    -- Posted by mountain357 on Wed, Jan 12, 2011, at 11:48 AM
  • I think that it was wrong of the police to just enter his home and charge him for that. Obviously they were fake so they wouldn't hurt anyone. I have known Brian all of my life and I trust him with my life. He is like and uncle to me and I hate how everyone is against him. You all need to stop and think about the charges and evidence. Not about your history with Brian, if any.

    -- Posted by GenevievePowers on Mon, Feb 6, 2012, at 11:54 AM
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