A Wilmington man is facing a serious felony charge after investigators say they found more than a pound of military-style explosive in his possession, the result of a long-running probe that started hundreds of miles away in Florida.
New Hanover County authorities say 31-year-old Edward James Timothy Joynt was arrested Saturday, and charged with possession of a weapon of mass destruction. Deputies took him into custody without incident as part of a joint operation involving local law enforcement and federal agents. According to WECT, arrest documents allege Joynt had about 1.25 pounds of C-4 plastic explosive compound.
An arrest warrant describes the seized material as “C-4 Plastic Explosive Compound (approximately 1.25 pounds).” After he was booked, Joynt was taken to the New Hanover County Detention Facility. WWAY reports he is being held on a $15,000 secured bond while investigators keep digging into the case.
FBI Traces Case Back To Florida
The FBI’s Charlotte field office said the arrest came out of a coordinated effort with FBI-Jacksonville, and that the investigation originally began in Florida. The agency described the work as ongoing in a public update posted by FBI - Charlotte on Facebook. Details about how the case moved from Florida to coastal North Carolina have not been released.
How North Carolina Treats Weapons Of Mass Destruction
State law in North Carolina makes it a felony in most situations to manufacture, possess, acquire or transport nuclear, biological or chemical weapons of mass destruction. Those rules provide the legal framework for cases like Joynt’s. The statute is laid out in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.21, which spells out the offenses and limited exceptions.
Officials have not publicly said there was any immediate danger to the community tied to Joynt’s arrest, and have repeatedly noted that the investigation is still active. For now, they are sticking to the basics in arrest paperwork and agency statements while federal and local teams sort through the evidence. WECT reports that investigators continue to develop the case.
According to records cited by reporters, Joynt had a previous arrest tied to an alleged weapon-related incident during a downtown protest in 2020. WWAY has connected that earlier case to his public record.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to reach out to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office or the FBI. Contact details and guidance for submitting tips can be found on the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office website and in the FBI - Charlotte Facebook post that announced the arrest.
