Two Warren men will now face trial with a pair of Washtenaw County brothers for allegedly setting off a pipe bomb outside a Freedom Township bar last fall.

Joshua McClellan, 23, and Nicholas Kraus, 21, were both recently ordered to stand trial on arson, assault, and attempted murder charges following the conclusion of a preliminary hearing spread over several days, court records show.

Multiple counts of arson and possession of explosive devices were dismissed. Prosecutors charged both men after investigators determined they and Joshua and Joseph Hafner-Canter allegedly placed and detonated the bomb outside the Pleasant Lake Inn on Sept. 11, 2009. 

Michigan State Police detectives discovered they set fire to a basement hallway to distract customers inside at the time. A basement apartment was also occupied during the incident, but no injuries occurred.

Police said both the fire and the bombing were in retaliation in a dispute over money. Both Hafner-Canter brothers, age 19 and 20, are also charged with multiple counts of arson. They recently waived their rights to preliminary hearings in district court. They remain in custody pending a pre-trial hearing. They are from Manchester and Saline.

McClellan and Kraus remain free on personal bonds and are scheduled to appear for pre-trial hearings on Oct. 27.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.