Mailbox bomber’s trial set for next week

The Minnesota man accused of planting pipe bombs in Iowa and several other Midwestern states in 2002 is scheduled to appear in federal court in Cedar Rapids next week. A court date of February 10th is now set for Luke Helder. The 24-year-old has been in custody at a federal medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, since last May where doctors are trying to determine whether he’s competent to stand trial for the mailbox bombings. Some 18 devices were placed in rural mailboxes in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas. Six people were injured by explosions. When captured in Nevada, Helder claimed he was trying to make a smiley face on the map. His attorney plans to use the insanity defense if the case ever goes to trial.