Couple who made acid bombs get deferred sentences

By The Associated Press
Saturday, June 9, 2012

BOULDER — A Longmont couple accused of building acid bombs and placing them at a home and under a car in March have been given two-year deferred sentences.

The Longmont Times-Call (http://bit.ly/LwYBeU ) reports Rhandine Hall and Leo David Gerritzen pleaded guilty Friday to felony possession of an explosive or incendiary device. Gerritzen also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

Investigators say Gerritzen’s wife told them the bombs started as a “science experiment” at the couple’s home to show their kids chemical reactions, and the experiments escalated from there.

One of the bombs was placed at the home of Gerritzen’s former landlords, with whom he had a dispute. The other was placed outside a friend’s home in what police called a prank. No one was injured.

The acid bombs use a hydrochloric acid solution to cause sealed bottles to explode.