Pueblo Jury: Robert Bruce Guilty On All Counts

The man accused of trying to kill a Pueblo police officer was found guilty on all counts today.

Four men and eight woman returned their verdict on Robert Bruce early Thursday morning, after deliberating just a few hours with a newly seated alternate juror.

Bruce was found guilty on two counts of attempted murder, one each for the officer and his wife, who was home at the time.

Bruce was also convicted for illegal possession of an incendiary device.

Prosecutors successfully proved that Robert Bruce, 49, intended to kill PPD officer Nathan Pruce back in 2009, by rigging a propane tank up the officer?s garage and filling it with combustible fumes.

Bruce?s motive; silence Pruce before he could testify against him in a sex crime trial later that same day.

The verdict brings a close to the bizarre peeping tom case that began in 2007, and opens the door to what should be a long series of court trials on pending rape charges.

Bruce is suspected of being the ?Ether Man? rapist, so dubbed because the culprit has used a rag soaked in chemicals to subdue and assault women in several states, including New Mexico and Texas. Bruce is also awaiting trial on a suspected rape case in Pueblo.

For now, Pueblo Police are just happy to have Bruce off the streets.

Nathan Pruce, the target of the home attack, spoke exclusively to KRDO?s Lila Hollin after today?s verdict, saying ?It’s a good feeling to know Mr. Bruce is behind bars, [and he?ll] stay there. He deserves to be there.?

Pruce says the entire situation has been an ordeal for him and his family.

?I’m a police officer but I’m also a human being? said the clearly relieved officer, ?It?s been devastating for us. It?s changed out lives forever. Its taken the innocence of our family that I wish would stay there for the rest of our lives.?

Today?s guilty verdict will go a long ways towards healing his family, says Pruce, especially for his 8-year-old son, ?He’ll know that papa is in good shape tonight?.