One man convicted,one cleared in explosives case

MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) -- Jurors in the Upper Peninsula have acquitted a man and convicted a co-defendant in a trial involving more than 4,000 pounds of explosive materials.

John Lechner, a farmer and builder from Sault Ste. Marie, was convicted last Thursday of six crimes, including transportation of explosive materials and making false statements to authorities. TV station WLUC says Ken Kassab of Brimley was cleared of illegally transporting fuel oil and ammonium nitrate and another charge.

Kassab had pleaded guilty but withdrew his plea and went to trial last week with Lechner in Marquette federal court.

Lechner wasn't charged with plotting to blow up the mixture. But in a recorded conversation, he told an informant that he'd become a mercenary "when the people decide to take the government back."

Published: Mon, Jun 25, 2012