MEDFORD, Ore. — A judge has raised bail to $5 million for an Oregon man charged with trying to blow up the office of the district attorney who was prosecuting him on burglary charges.
Alan Leroy McVay appeared by video Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court in Medford on charges of arson, burglary, possessing and manufacturing a destructive device, and criminal mischief. He didn’t speak during the hearing.
McVay was arrested Wednesday, a week after a blast blew out windows at the Jackson County district attorney’s office in Medford.
The Mail Tribune newspaper reported in April that McVay was one of three people being prosecuted after a Medford home was burglarized, and guns and ammunition were taken.
Anita Roberts says her uncle has been homeless for a long time and had gotten involved with drugs and fallen in with a bad crowd, but his family still loves him.
Authorities refused to divulge a motive for the blast, or what tips and physical evidence led investigators to focus on McVay. But The Mail Tribune newspaper reported in April that McVay was one of three people being prosecuted for the burglary of a Medford home where 30 guns and ammunition were taken. Sheriff’s deputies found the guns and ammunition in a local storage facility.
“It was an act of domestic terrorism against the criminal justice system,” George said of the bombing.
McVay was held on pending arraignment Thursday afternoon on charges of arson, burglary, building and possessing a destructive device, and criminal mischief. The case would go to the grand jury, District Attorney Beth Heckert said.
George refused to elaborate on the evidence that led to his arrest.
George said that information led investigators to McVay within 48 to 72 hours, but the decision to arrest him was not made until Wednesday, a week after the blast. George added that there was no evidence of any other people involved in the blast, or that another attack was planned.
“I think everyone in my office breathed a sigh of relief that we have a person in custody,” and a threat to the community had been removed, Heckert said.
An explosion at about 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 13 blew out windows, but did little other damage to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office in downtown Medford. Authorities said if a 5-gallon propane tank that was part of the device had blown up, the building could have been destroyed.
Two dozen agents from the FBI and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives helped Medford police in the investigation.
