This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 2:12 PM- An October trial date has been set for an Illinois man accused in a pipe bomb explosion at the main Salt Lake City library.
Thomas Zajac was visibly agitated during today's scheduling hearing, in part, because the trial's Oct. 1 start date was so far off.
"My client's very concerned _ we've had a rocky relationship _ he's very concerned about how far out the trial has been set," said Zajac's attorney, Robert Steele.
Magistrate Judge Samuel Alba set the date to accommodate presiding U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball's calendar as well as allowing time for filing motions and exhibits in the case.
"Any delays have been the result of Mr. Zajac's actions," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos Esqueda.
Zajac, 53, has changed attorneys five times since he pleaded not guilty in November to charges related to the Sept. 15 explosion of a pipe bomb at the Salt Lake City library. A previous trial date had been set for Jan. 30, 2007.
Steele said after court he had taken over the case again last month.
"I'm numbers two and five," Steele said.
Steele said he is planning to file a motion to try to get some of the six charges against his client dropped, but he said he didn't know if there could be a plea agreement in the case.
"It's hard coming and going from a case," he said.
Zajac was arrested at his home in Downers Grove, Ill., in October after investigators said they found his fingerprint on remnants of a rocket igniter at the scene.
The blast blew out a window at the library and forced 400 people to evacuate the building. No one was injured and the library reopened the next day.
Zajac is charged with carrying a destructive device in relation to a crime of violence, attempted damaging and destroying a building by an explosive device, possession of an unregistered destructive device, possession of a destructive device following a domestic violence conviction, willfully using the mail to threaten the use of explosives and transportation of explosives in interstate commerce with the intent to damage and destroy a building.