An Annapolis man is facing a long list of serious charges after investigators say they pulled dozens of suspected explosive devices, along with weapons and ammunition, from his home on a quiet residential block.
Yesterday, officials executed a search-and-seizure warrant at a house in the 1200 block of Blackwalnut Lane. The county fire department's bomb-investigation unit says it uncovered a cache of suspected devices that varied in size and composition. The resident, identified as 37-year-old Lee Ralston, was arrested and now faces multiple felony counts tied to the materials. Officers also seized weapons and ammunition as part of the probe.
What investigators recovered
Anne Arundel County’s Fire/Arson & Explosives Investigative Bureau (FIB) reports that it found a significant number of suspected explosive devices, along with other material consistent with device construction, according to WBALTV. Investigators say they served the warrant at the Blackwalnut Lane address yesterday.
Authorities allege that Ralston has been charged with 32 felony counts of manufacturing a destructive device and 32 counts of possession. Officials have not publicly detailed how any of the seized items were configured or whether they were operational.
Penalties under state law
Under Maryland law, manufacturing or possessing a destructive device is a felony that can carry up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to Justia. Judges can also order sentences for destructive-device convictions to run consecutively to other penalties if prosecutors bring and win related charges.
Weapons and a parallel hunting probe
Alongside the suspected explosive devices, investigators say they recovered numerous weapons, suppressors, and ammunition during the search. Separate charges are also pending from the Maryland Natural Resources Police in connection with an investigation into alleged illegal deer hunting, WBAL reports.
Officials have not said whether any federal agencies are assisting with the case, nor have they disclosed whether any of the seized devices were live or needed to be rendered safe by an explosives team.
Local context
Cases involving alleged bomb materials are still relatively rare in the area, but this is not the first time local authorities have dealt with destructive-device allegations. A December Hoodline report detailed a Glen Burnie incident that led to similar charges and put a spotlight on bomb-related investigations in the region. For more background, see coverage of the Glen Burnie explosion scare.
Ralston’s case remains under active investigation and is expected to move through the Anne Arundel County court system. Prosecutors and county officials have so far declined to go beyond the basic details released to local media.
