Bizarre: Parents Charged For Teaching Kids How To Make Mailbox Bombs

Prior Lake Parents Charged for Mailbox Bombs

Seven teenagers are charged with blowing up mailboxes at south metro homes, and one boy's parents are charged with helping them.

The Scott County Attorney's Office charged Robert Joseph Masters, 48, of Prior Lake, and his wife, Roberta Lynn Masters, 52, with aiding and abetting an offender and possession of explosive devices.

Scott County Attorney Pat Ciliberto said, ""Both of these adults, there's probable cause to believe, allowed these juveniles access to the gunpowder and then knowingly allowed some of them to directly participate in the making of pipe bombs on the Masters' property."

The teenagers allegedly used to vandalize five mailboxes in Scott and Dakota Counties in May and June.

According to the criminal complaint, Robert Masters and his son went to a store in Lakeville twice to buy gunpowder.

Roberta Masters allegedly called building pipe bombs "a good educational tool for the kids."

The complaint said she allowed the teens to blow up the pipe bombs in her back yard.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS spoke to Roberta Masters on the phone. She denied her involvement in the case and wouldn't say anything else.

The Masters are also accused of helping the teens hide information from investigators.

Officials have not released the names of the accused teenagers since they are juveniles.

[link to kstp.com]