Trial set for expulsion case

A June trial date has been set for the Red Bluff man charged with transporting explosives, drugs and a gun through Glenn County.

Anthony Douglas Brothers, 42, was arrested Jan. 23 on northbound Interstate 5. California Highway Patrol officers reported smelling marijuana as they approached his vehicle.

A subsequent vehicle search reportedly turned up two explosive devices, multiple plastic bags of marijuana, a loaded firearm, pharmaceuticals and hypodermic syringe, authorities said.

The CHP said the two explosive devices were not homemade and may have been purchased in Mexico and brought across the border.

Brothers was booked into the Glenn County Jail on suspicion of possession of a destructive device, illegal possession of a concealed firearm, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, transporting more than an ounce of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale - all felonies, jail documents state.

Additionally, he was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor complaints of possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and possession of a hypodermic syringe, jail documents state.

Brothers waived his preliminary hearing in February.

Brothers contacted the Willows Journal on March 4 via telephone, claiming his preliminary hearing was "exhorted" from him by both prosecutors and his court-appointed attorney, Albert Smith - but offered no evidence to support his allegations.

"They offered my five years, eight months (in prison) if I would (accept a plea deal)," Brothers said.

Brothers said he was told if he agreed to plead guilty to being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm and transporting a controlled substance, prosecutors would drop the remaining charges.

"I said OK because that's a good deal," Brothers said.

Saying he now wishes to have a new attorney, Brothers said he now plans to fight the charges against him.

"They have a nice little scam going here," Brothers said, claiming he believes his attorney is "in cahoots" with prosecutors in what he claims is "a conspiracy" to keep his impounded 1986 Ford Bronco.

Brothers claimed he has a Prop. 215 card for the marijuana, but He also said he believes the CHP officers lied about smelling marijuana as they approached his vehicle.

Brothers would not say where he obtained the explosives and said he believes he being "railroaded" by local authorities.

"The only thing I'm guilty of is being an addict," Brothers said.

He is due back in court June 10 for a trial readiness conference, with jury selection scheduled to begin June 21. Brothers remains in custody at the Glenn County Jail in lieu of $67,500 bail.

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.