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STAMFORD, Conn. A Florida man has been charged with placing acid bottle bombs underneath the car of a Stamford woman, a news release from U.S. Attorney for Connecticut David B. Fein stated.
Frank Mendoza, 51, traveled from Florida and placed two bombs underneath a former girlfriend's car on Dec. 8, 2010, the release said. The victim picked one of the bottles up later that night when it began to smoke and fizz, the release said. She then put it down and ran from the area as it exploded, the release said.
The investigation found that acid had been put in both bottles prior to the victim finding them, the release said.
Mendoza dated the victim for about a year starting in 2008 in Jacksonville, Fla., but she left him after a year when he began threatening her and was abusive, the release said. He continued to call and threaten her, and once, in spring 2010, entered her home and threatened to light her on fire, the release said.
The victim moved to Stamford in September 2010, and Mendoza began calling and threatening her again after finding out where she was, the release said. Two of the victims friends were also threatened by Mendoza, the release said.
The suspect has been detained since being arrested in Florida on Aug. 17, the release said. On Monday, he pleaded not guilty in U.S. Federal Court in Hartford to four counts of interstate stalking, one count of interstate domestic violence and two counts of using an explosive in the commission of a felony, the release said.
If convicted, Mendoza faces a maximum term of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 for each stalking charge and the domestic violence charge. The explosive charge carries a mandatory 10 years, consecutive. in jail, the release said.
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