WACO, Texas, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A U.S. magistrate ruled a former West, Texas, paramedic indicted for possession of materials to build a pipe bomb could live with his mother until his trial.
Jeffrey C. Manske ruled Bryce Reed, 31, could be released from McLennan County Jail Thursday over objections of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Frazier, who argued Reed had the makings of a pipe bomb and constituted a danger to the community, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported Friday.
Reed attorney Jonathan Sibley argued prosecutors did not prove Reed posed a threat or was a flight risk and should be released.
Manske set a $25,000 unsecured bond for Reed and placed conditions on his release.
Related
Sibley said Reed and his family were "thrilled" with the judge's decision, but did not discuss the conditions for his client's release.
Reed's trial is set for Sept. 23 in federal court in Waco.
There was no reference to the fire or explosion at a West fertilizer plant during Thursday's hearing, and Sibley and Reed have said Reed had nothing to do with the fire or explosion, that killed 15 people and damaged or destroyed homes and businesses within 37 blocks.
"He has no connection to that whatsoever," Sibley said Thursday. "We said it before and we will keep saying it if we have to. That rumored connection needs to be put to bed because it is non-existent."
McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna said he reviewed a Texas Ranger report on Reed and told the Tribune-Herald two weeks ago nothing linked Reed to the fire or explosion at the fertilizer plant.
