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October 14, 2008
Posted: 09:21 AM ET

ORLANDO, Florida–Testimony continues today in the trial of 50-year-old Kenneth Reeves, charged with burglary and possession of a destructive device after allegedly planting pipe bombs in a local family’s home.

Kenneth Reeves is accused of framing a teenager in a bomb-making plot

Prosecutors believe Reeves planted the explosives and deliberately misled police to believe 18-year-old Scott Davis was planning to blow up his high school. Reeves told police members of the Davis family had shown him where pipe bombs were hidden on their property.

The defense, however, says the state can not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. In fact, during opening statements Monday, defense attorney Steven Laurence told jurors that it is more likely that Davis, who has a history of mental health issues and of bullying other students, built the pipe bombs and planned to use them.

Orange County Sheriff’s deputies testified on Monday that they found six pipe bombs in the Davis family home after three separate searches prompted by information Reeves provided. In addition, deputies also recovered a letter which the defense refers to as a “suicide note” and a toy red rocket which had a motor igniter similar to the igniters found on the pipe bombs.

A panel of six jurors, four women and two men, will determine Reeve’s guilt or innocence. If convicted, Reeves could be sentenced to life plus an additional 30 years in prison. Monday, Reeves rejected a plea offer by that state in which he would have received a sentence of 10 years plus an additional four years of probation.

Stay tuned to In Session for live coverage of this case.

–In Session staff

Filed under: In Session staff • Man Accused of Framing Teen • Trials


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Jerald   October 14th, 2008 10:13 am ET

Has America become that intolerant now that kids can be falsely accused of a crime and when it’s discovered that said accusation is false; the accuser might not face justice…?!?!?

billyjoe gray   October 14th, 2008 10:24 am ET

as for the question as to what should happern to police who fame others , i think that framming them is too good for them however they need to learn that just like them we have rights too and framming innocent peopleis notone fo them.

Rainey   October 14th, 2008 10:58 am ET

If this officer is guilty of attempting to frame this boy he should face the highest penalty that Mr Davis would have faced plus 30 years.

Susan   October 14th, 2008 11:00 am ET

The sentence of life + 30 seems about right if Reeves is guilty. As to the question of the day, I feel that police officers should be held to a MUCH higher standard than civilians. There must be a huge deterrent against officers falsely planting evidence and accusing the innocent. I’m more than a little surprised that the State Attorney’s Office offered such a lenient plea yesterday. It doesn’t sound like they’re very confident in their case, and the fact that Reeves rejected that generous plea would lead one to feel that he is either very confident or very stupid!

Matu Feliciano   October 14th, 2008 11:42 am ET

If he is guilty, then he must serve his time in a prison. an other case I’m reminded of is the cop who shot the woman to death who wouldn’t except his advances. It’s not like this kind of sociopath behavior doesn’t happens. It does. All the evidence is there, and this ex-police officer looks cooked!

hermi hanlin   October 14th, 2008 1:17 pm ET

i’m not a high-powered, big bucks lawyer, but after about five minutes ii have a theory (other than the rejection from the mother….which i think also played a part) as follows:
reeves supposedly was fired from the police dept……it seems his actions are such that he can now expose the police as being inept….i.e. overlooking four pipe bombs in the cars….
he killed two birds with one stone…..taking revenge on the rejection by the mother and taking revenge on being fired by the police….

hermi hanlin

don   October 14th, 2008 2:17 pm ET

what the defense is saying does not make sense to me if my son showed me two pipe bombs i would not tell him to put one in my room and the other one in his room i would call the police myself.then knowing mr reeves had called the police about the bombs i would not brag about the police missing 4 more bombs.

thanks don from fl

denise miller   October 14th, 2008 3:25 pm ET

where is the live feed?

Kim   October 14th, 2008 3:44 pm ET

I also cannot find the live feed online. Anyone have any info as to how I can view the trial online? Thank you.

denise miller   October 14th, 2008 3:58 pm ET

yay the trial is on
is this a private defense attorney or legal aid?

Kim   October 14th, 2008 3:59 pm ET

Finally able to see trial online.

Kent   October 14th, 2008 4:41 pm ET

Is there anyway the great “In Sessions” field crew could clean up that very loud humming noise during live feeds inside the court room?
Thanks All

Mamie M   October 14th, 2008 5:35 pm ET

See another Orlando creep!

Why do people think it’s so wonderful??

It is filled with criminals and people running away from life.

Dick Anderson   October 14th, 2008 5:43 pm ET

Bobby Cutts was a former police oficer

Lyn   October 14th, 2008 6:23 pm ET

The In Session Live just ended (3pm PST). Jack Ford said to continue watching go to this site for the live feed?!…Can’t find it. I also tried TruTv.com nothing live either, just blogs. What happened? *sigh*…

Concerned   October 15th, 2008 6:14 am ET

I, unfortunately, personally know Mr. Reeves and I can tell you without question, he is capable of plotting and committing this terrible crime. He has spent his entire life blaming others for the misfortunes in his life. He was fired from the Sheriff’s Dept. in 1992 (I think it was) for lying to the Sheriff. He has a history of lying, stealing, and taking revenge on innocent old people, women, and children. He is a coward and a poor excuse of a human being and if he gets less than life in prison, all who know him should be afraid, very afraid. His vengance has just begun! He will spend the rest of his miserable life trying to get revenge on anyone involved in this case. My family and I will not feel safe until he is off the streets for good!

Spider   October 15th, 2008 12:38 pm ET

Jerald-

Do you and Jami Floyd really have no idea what the definition of intolerant is? Your post makes no sense.
The word means a refusal to accept something.
Seems to me we would be overly tolerant if we allowed someone to lie and get away with it. Not intolerant. But then, English is my native language.

pat   October 15th, 2008 3:12 pm ET

This guy is a piece of work. He is so guilty that I feel bad for the Davis family if the jury don’t see it.

Rainey   October 15th, 2008 3:35 pm ET

Reeves is crazy. He never used the key on the nail on the tree; He used the one under the flower pot.

scared   October 15th, 2008 5:32 pm ET

I also know Kenneth Reeves and have to agree with “concerned” i am extremely scared of not only Ken but what he is capable of doing. The last year and four months have been a small feeling of security with him being in jail. I fear him getting out and will do what ever is needed to protect my family even if that means up rooting and leaving everything behind. I hope that the jury really pays attention to the facts and the story changes and gives him the max. That is when my family will be safe and able to truely sleep at night knowing that he cant hurt us anymore or anyone else. This is a very dangerous man who CAN NOT WALK FREE!!!!!!

mari   October 16th, 2008 9:45 am ET

Where is the live feed????

Just don't see it   October 16th, 2008 4:19 pm ET

I am a minority here in that I just don’t see the burden of proof. I thought Reeves testimony helped him and beleive him to be innocent of the charges.
I must be missing something everyone else has heard. How is it that the prosecutor has proved Reeves Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt?

Mr. C . Kent   October 16th, 2008 7:03 pm ET

I am neither a psychologist, or psychiatrist, but this man has a severe personality disorder. Most people rely, almost entirely, on another’s declaration of friendship. No one knows for sure, what causes a person to ingratiate themselves into another families structure. Certainly, a sexual attraction has to be one of the leading causes. A male or female can become fixated on a member of the same or opposite sex, and use means, that are not overt to get closer to the person they are interested in developing a relationship with. It appears that Kenneth Reeves, is such a person. He develops a short time relationship with a family, while being fixated on the young wife. Rebuffed by his real reason for befriending this family, his defective personality, concocts a way to punish the whole family. He chooses the weakest link, and away he goes. He needs to be put away for years, while his warped mind is being straightened, by Big Bubba. Upon release, he will view the world through a different set of eyes. Squeal you piggy boy, hope you remember the movie Deliverance.

Lois   October 16th, 2008 10:05 pm ET

I have felt with the whole trial that Reeves is capable of this and more. So scared when I read your comment it scared me that this man could do this and have any question to what to do with him. Its was so knowing with every word that his dangerous, at this point if he get away with this he will hurt someone.

Gene   October 17th, 2008 2:36 pm ET

Reeves is a social path and his actions on the stand show it,the sad thing is we have no clue the terror this man has left behind,he prays on the weak,women-children-and its hard too tell who he has abused in the past as he had a badge for awhile,they need to throw away the key to his cell,he got what he deserved,and for him to give that speech on why he touched the pipe bombs..man anyone who watched that and could not add up what was going on here has not got a clue and look at the computer searches how to make and handle pipe bombs!!Please anyone who believes this guy is innocent has lost there mind.

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Sidebar takes you behind the scenes of the day's legal headlines with breaking news and in-depth analysis from In Session's anchors and correspondents.

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Ashleigh Banfield
Co-anchor of the daily trial program Banfield and Ford: Courtside
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A former prosecutor and co-anchor of the daily trial program Banfield & Ford: Courtside
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Anchor of the daily trial program Lisa Bloom: Open Court
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Jami Floyd
Former defense attorney and anchor of her own daily program Jami Floyd: Best Defense
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Fred Graham
Senior Editor Fred Graham covers legal news in Washington, D.C.
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Jean Casarez
Attorney Jean Casarez covers trials around the country
Jean Casarez
Beth Karas
Former prosecutor Beth Karas covers trials around the country
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