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Crime & Safety

35 Years in Prison for Former DG Man Convicted of Utah Bombing

James Zajac also awaits federal trial for 2006 Hinsdale Metra Station bombing.

A federal judge Thursday sentenced James Zajac to 35 years in prison for setting off an explosion at a Salt Lake City library. Zajac is a suspect in a 2006 explosion at the Hinsdale Metra Station and was considered a "person of interest" in an attempted 2004 bombing in Downers Grove after a bomb was discovered on Main Street. 

U.S. District Court Clark Waddoups handed down the sentence, which was less than the maximum of life in prison sought by federal prosecutors for the September 2006 explosion that took place two weeks after the Hinsdale incident. Zajac, 57, formerly of Downers Grove, will spend five years on supervised release after leaving prison and must pay nearly $6,200 in restitution to the library.

"When the defendant placed a bomb at the Salt Lake Public Library in 2006 and walked away, he terrorized the community," Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Benson said.  "Luckily, the bomb didn’t kill anyone in the crowded building that day, but it could have. There is hardly an act more deliberately dangerous than placing a deadly incendiary device in a crowded city area.  It creates panic, chaos, and fear.  It is the definition of terrorism."

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Zajac has already filed an appeal of his Utah convictions, which came after a two-week trial last year. The appeal had been on hold until after his sentencing.

Zajac also awaits a federal trial in Chicago on charges in the Metra station case. He is scheduled for a May 6 hearing.

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In the 2004 Downers Grove incident, a wiring error prevented the bomb from exploding, according to the court documents in the Salt Lake City case. Earlier that year, Downers Grove police had charged Zajac with disorderly conduct relating to harassing communications.

The attempted bombing was referenced a year later in a letter to Downers Grove police warning that three bombs capable of killing 20 people would be detonated the following day. According to court documents, the letter said the bombs were planned because the police department had "attacked innocent people, and now innocent people will pay, on your behalf." The threatened bombings never occurred.

The U.S. District Court granted Zajac's attorney's motion to exclude evidence from the Downers Grove incident in the Salt Lake City case, although a DGPD officer testified at the trial.

Elaine Johnson contributed to this story.

 

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