Accused Cherokee County Bomb Maker Arrested

Cherokee County authorities arrested a Tahlequah man accused of building and detonating a 5-gallon bucket bomb near Hulbert in April.

Joby Northington, 33, was booked into the Cherokee County jail Monday following an investigation by deputies and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

That investigation began after a rural landowner heard an explosion and found remnants of a homemade bomb on his property. Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault said the explosion appeared to be "large" with debris from the bomb found almost 200 yards away.

He said the investigation led them to Northington, and a search of Northington's truck and home turned up gasoline, a propane bottle, black powder and a book titled "The Anarchist Cookbook" which investigators allege had been marked with a highlighter in sections detailing how to make blasting gelation.

During questioning Northington denied making and detonating the bomb.

He is being held without bond.