An Okmulgee County man has entered a guilty plea to a federal explosives charge, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Steven William Burden, age 46, of Henryetta, admitted to illegally possessing dynamite, having previously been convicted of a felony. The indictment specified that on November 16, 2020, Burden was found in possession of thirty-one semi-gelatin dynamite sticks.
The discovery of the explosives marked the culmination of an investigation spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tulsa Police Department, and possessing the expertise, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. As a felon, Burden's rights to hold such materials were firmly rescinded due to a past crime that was punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year. The details were laid out in a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
During a hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson accepted the guilty plea and ordered the preparation of a presentence investigation report, setting the stage for Burden's sentencing. The exact sentencing date has yet to be scheduled, but it is a certainty that the wheels of justice are in motion for this case.
Representing the United States, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter was on hand to oversee the proceedings against Burden. His conviction for being a felon in possession of an explosive could result in serious penalties, which reinforces the stringent nature of federal laws regarding the possession of explosive materials, especially by individuals with a prior criminal record.
