May 1, 2023 at 12:19 p.m.
Preliminary hearing scheduled for Rhinelander man accused of possessing improvised explosive devices
By River News Staff-
Ames was in court April 25 for an adjourned initial appearance on charges filed on April 12. His initial appearance on those charges - two counts of felony bail jumping and one count of possession of improvised explosives - was before Oneida County circuit judge Mary Burns who set a $100,000 cash bond in the case, Ames' third possession of explosive devices case in less than five months.
As Ames' other cases are before circuit judge Mike Bloom, the new case was transferred to his docket.
During the April 25 hearing, defense attorney Maggie Hogan asked Bloom to modify the $100,000 bond. She noted that Ames is in need of services that can't be provided to him in a jail setting and he wants to continue working.
"Mr. Ames definitely has a lot financially on the line here and there are other alternatives to custody that can be employed so that he can be released and continue to work," she argued, noting that he would be amenable to wearing a monitoring unit.
Assistant district attorney Jillian Pfeifer conceded that $100,000 is a high bond but argued that a substantial amount is appropriate in this situation, given that Ames has now been charged with the same crime three times in a matter of a few months.
"We now have three cases in which the defendant continues to make these explosive devices," she said. "All three cases are the same conduct, the same type of devices. It's inherently dangerous conduct and so for those reasons I think a high cash bond is appropriate...."
Bloom responded by noting that he was "displeased" when Ames picked up a second case in early January and attempted then to "impress upon Mr. Ames the precarious nature of his situation."
He stated that he learned about the third case by reading about it in the newspaper.
"Displeased doesn't quite cut describing my reaction to reading the newspaper that day and out of interest in decorum I shan't use the words that accurately describe my reaction to finding out that we now have a third incident," he said.
He then advised the parties that he would take Hogan's motion under advisement, pending "more specific information about the game plan".
Given that Ames remains in custody, he scheduled a preliminary hearing in the new case for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 3.
Ames is facing a total of seven felonies as well as one misdemeanor charge.
In the first case, filed on Dec. 6, 2022, he was charged with possession of improvised explosives and second degree recklessly endangering safety after a tree in his backyard was reported to be on fire. He later admitted to setting the fire by placing an improvised explosive inside it, according to the complaint.
Despite a bond condition prohibiting possession of explosive implements, Ames was back in court in early January on charges including felony bail jumping and possession of improvised explosives.
Those charges were filed after police investigated a report of an explosion near Ames's residence during the early morning hours of Jan. 6, 2023.
The April 12 complaint was also prompted by reports of an explosion in the Alban Street neighborhood, this one at approximately 6:30 a.m. April 10.
After obtaining a search warrant, police found "numerous items" that could be used to make improvised explosives in the basement of the Ames home. Some of the items were hidden in the rafters, according to the complaint.
Also located in the search was a Ninja blender top with what appeared to be explosive powder residue, the complaint states.
Items of drug paraphernalia and a substance later determined to be THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, were also located in the residence, according to a police report attached to the complaint.
Assistant district attorney Mary Sowinski represented the state during Ames initial appearance on the newest charge.
"Under the circumstances of this case, given that this is third time he has been caught with such devices and there's also evidence of illicit drug use, the state's going to ask for $100,000 cash bail," she told Burns.
Sowinski described the defendant's behavior as "obviously potentially hugely dangerous to the public" and argued that he has shown that he cannot obey court orders.
Burns followed the assistant district attorney's recommendation.
"Here's my issue, this is the third case like this and it's not baseball but it's three strikes and you're out with this sort of charge," she told Ames. "I don't know if you're obsessed with bombs or if you're trying to perfect a bomb that you have some plan or purpose to use, but I'm going to order a 100,000 cash bond. My problem is if you are unreliable in following the court's directives on your other bond conditions in the previous cases, the court expects you'll also be unreliable as far as coming to court for further appearances."
If convicted of all seven felony charges in all three cases, Ames faces up to 40 years in prison.
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