A Hays man accused of planting a pipe bomb under a man’s truck in Lawrence’s East Hills Business Park has accepted responsibility for the May 16, 2007, crime, the United States Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.

Donald E. Parsons, 57, of Hays, pleaded guilty to one count of making a destructive device, a news release from prosecutors said.

Lawrence police responded to the incident after the owner of the truck found a pipe bomb hanging under his truck, said Jim Cross, public information officer for federal prosecutors in Kansas. The man found the device as he was leaving work at Pearson Government Solutions.

“The bomb was made of metal pipe, two pounds of smokeless powder, bolts, screws, ball bearings, black electrical tape and a detonator made from a mouse trap,” Cross said. “In his plea, Parsons admitted that he and the intended victim had dated the same woman before the woman broke off the relationship with Parsons and began living with the other man.”

Investigators found tools and materials used to make the bomb at Parsons’ family home in Ellis County and information about explosives at the Hays office of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, where Parsons worked, prosecutors said. Detectives also found records of Internet searches about making bombs on Parsons’ home computer and used store security footage to show that Parsons purchased parts used in the bomb at a hardware store in Hays, Cross said.

Parsons is scheduled for sentencing on March 9 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.