Dothan Bombing Suspect Faces Federal Charges

A Dothan, Alabama man is facing federal charges for his alleged role in a bombing that left a victim injured, the Grimy Times has learned.

According to court documents, Sylvio Joseph King, 45, is charged with improperly possessing and maliciously using an explosive device. On February 26, 2019, King made his initial appearance before a federal judge in Montgomery, Alabama.

The charges stem from an incident in October 2017, when King allegedly used an improvised explosive device to blow up a truck. The device, which consisted of a galvanized steel pipe containing bullets and an explosive powder mixture, resulted in injuries to a victim.

King is also charged with illegally possessing two different improvised explosive devices, including a remote control bomb and a directional mine. The remote control bomb consisted of a galvanized steel pipe containing bullets and an explosive powder mixture, while the directional mine consisted of an aluminum tube containing lead shot and an explosive powder mixture.

If convicted of all charges, King faces a minimum sentence of 37 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison, as well as significant fines and restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., praised the work of his colleagues in the investigation, thanking the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Dothan Police Department for their assistance in the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Bradley Bodiford is prosecuting the case, with King’s trial set for June 2019. An indictment is merely a method of alleging that a crime has been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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