March 16, 2023 at 12:41 p.m.
Men charged with possession of improvised explosive
By River News Staff-
According to criminal complaints filed March 13, Stonewall D. Church, 20, of Harshaw has been charged with possession of an improvised explosive while Shane S. Brunette, 40, of Harshaw, is charged with possession of improvised explosive (as party to the crime) as well four counts of felony bail jumping.
According to the complaints, a homemade "firecracker" was found in Church's jacket pocket after he was pulled over on a traffic stop on Thursday evening, March 9.
The device was described in court papers as being cylindrical in shape.
"The cylinder shape had tinfoil wrapped around it and blue tape was wrapped around that with .22 casings and screws taped between the tinfoil and tape. Putting casings/screws or other small objects in this manner is commonly used as shrapnel pieces," the investigating officer wrote. "Shrapnel's purpose is to kill or seriously injure its intended target or anyone within the blast radius of the explosion. This is not something that would just be on the outside of a 'firecracker' and would be on a bomb/explosive device."
The officer also noted observing a green fuse sticking out of the top of the cylinder.
"This device, if detonated, would cause bodily harm, great bodily harm, death or property damage," the officer's report states. "The device had all the components to directly detonate the explosive by means of wick/fuse, gray gun powder material, the compact container and added pieces for shrapnel."
According to the complaint, Church told authorities Brunette gave him the device a few days prior to the traffic stop.
"Church indicated Church and Brunette were going to go somewhere out in the woods and detonate the IED (improvised explosive device) for fun and there was no malicious intent intended on using the device," the complaint states.
Both men made their initial appearances Monday afternoon before Judge Mary Burns.
Assistant district attorney Jillian Pfeifer requested a cash bond for Brunette, as he has other open felony cases and recently missed a court appearance on one of them, and a signature bond for Church due to his lack of criminal history.
Burns set a $5,000 signature bond in Church's case and a $5,000 cash bond in Brunette's case.
Brunette is due back in court on March 27 for an adjourned initial appearance. He is facing a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if convicted of the five felony counts filed on Monday. Church's next court date is April 10. He faces a maximum of 6 years in prison if convicted of the possession of improvised explosive charge.
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