A Jefferson County resident is facing severe consequences after pleading guilty to federal explosives charges. On Tuesday, 38-year-old Robert Hiler admitted in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to the possession of a pipe bomb, a decision that could lead to a substantial prison sentence along with a hefty fine, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported.
Hiler's admittance relates to an incident back on Sept. 11, 2023, when Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies were conducting a search for another individual on active felony warrants. The officers, who had a search warrant for Hiler's residence found their target in the woods behind his home. Following that, with Hiler’s consent, deputies conducted a search and discovered the pipe bomb situated on a grey bucket in a room next to Hiler’s garage. He not only constructed the bomb but also had plans to detonate it using a car battery.
The guilty plea comes with the potential of facing up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Hiler's sentencing is scheduled for July, which will bring to a close a case that has, since its inception, been handled by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Ware and Mohsen Pasha are prosecuting the case, signifying a collaborative effort to ensure that such transgressions are met with commensurate repercussions.
