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BOUNTIFUL — A Bountiful High School student who pleaded guilty to detonating a chemical bomb in the school earlier this year now has a warrant out for his arrest because he didn't show up Monday for sentencing.
It is unknown why 18-year-old Chris Perry never made it to the sentencing. Perry's attorney tried calling him several times but eventually had to tell the judge he was a no show. As a result, the judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
Perry pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of possession of an explosive device after he and a 16-year- old female student set off four chemical bombs called "work" bombs near Bountiful High School. One of them was detonated inside the school.
No one was injured by the explosion or the hydrochloric gas it emitted, but authorities said it could have put a lot of people in danger.
Perry served 26 days in jail awaiting sentencing but was released due to personal issues, including an incident where he was attacked in jail. Perry's attorney said Perry not showing up to court on Monday surprised everyone, but he said Perry has family issues that could have prevented him from showing.
"I think there are some, I don't want to say homeless but stability with where he is staying," said Rich Gallegos, Perry's attorney. "He's had a rough couple of years and I think that's what has contributed to this happening and why he's here."
He's had a rough couple of years and I think that's what has contributed to this happening and why he's here.
–Rich Gallegos
Adult Probation and Parole is recommending that Perry be sentenced to 120 days in jail with credit for time already served, which is 26 days.
Perry's attorney was going to ask for no more jail time, just probation based on this being his first offense. But with this "no show," attorneys on both sides don't know what the judge will do.
"If he just didn't show up he's going to have to explain to the judge why he didn't show up and that could have some effect on what the judge does ultimately," prosecutor Rick Westmoreland said.
"There is more to the story; his life is a lot more complicated," Gallegos added. "I don't think it's just him blowing the court system off; I'm sure there is a good reason he's not here. That's why I'm going to track him down and get him here."
Attorneys on both sides are trying to give Perry the benefit of the doubt with this case, but not showing up for sentencing looks bad, they said.
The judge issued a $5,000 cash-only warrant for Perry's arrest, but his attorney is hopeful he can get a hold of Perry and find out why he wasn't in court. He's hopeful the judge will then put a hold on the warrant and reschedule the sentencing for June 25.
