[UPDATED with More Arrests, Lesser Charges:] Acid Dry-Ice Bombs Blast South County
Categories: Crime-iny
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| Melugin |
They include Robert Jacob Browne, 19, of Trabuco Canyon, and former Mission Viejo High School football star Mitchell Gary Melugin, 18.
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| Browne |
Likewise, bail for Melugin and Browne, who both pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanors at arraignment Tuesday, had their bails reduced from $1 million to $15,000 and $25,000 respectively. Melugin paid his bond and is now out of custody. It's unclear why Browne's bail is higher or whether he remains locked up.
Two other teens have also been arrested, but the sheriff's department has not identified them because they are under 18.
Despite the less-serious charges, sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino essentially told KABC's Eyewitness News not to mess with dry-ice bombs lest you put your eye out.
"You have exploding particles of plastic and dry ice--we should take this as a warning to anybody else," Amormino reportedly said. "It's not a prank. It's a very dangerous thing to do."
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| MySpace |
| Mitch Melugin |
One suspect was voted one of the best high school football players in Orange County last year and had signed on to play this coming season at North Arizona University.
He's 18-year-old Mitch Melugin, a 2011 Mission Viejo High School graduate who played tight end and defensive end for the Diablos. The Orange County Register included Melugin among "O.C.'s Hot 100" in 2010, a list of the county's top high school players.
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| MySpace |
| Melugin the Diablo |
No one was hospitalized, but the car's driver experienced ringing in his ears after picking up the bottle as it exploded.
The driver got the license plate that led to the arrest of Melugin. Robert Jacob Brown, 19, later turned himself in. Both are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on charges of possession of an explosive device with the intent to terrify or injure.
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