Ashley, North Carolina – A Tennessee man has pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of explosive material after he placed a device at the Asheville Regional Airport in 2017. Michael Christopher Estes, 46, of Tazewell, Tennessee, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell on [October 6, 2017] and pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of explosive material.
According to court documents, Estes walked onto the grounds of the Asheville Regional Airport carrying a package containing an explosive device he had constructed. The explosive device was inside two plastic bags, each tied in a knot, which Estes placed outside the entrance of the airport’s baggage claim area. The device tested positive for explosive material and was rendered safe by bomb technicians.
Estes told law enforcement that he had purchased the material and constructed the device as part of a training scenario. He claimed that his intention was not to harm the public but to devise a training scenario for law enforcement. However, his actions were widely condemned as reckless and irresponsible.
The investigation was led by the FBI and the Asheville Police Department, with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Asheville Regional Airport Authority Department of Public Safety. U.S. Attorney R. Andrew Murray praised the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in the case.
Estes is currently in federal custody and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set yet.
The case highlights the importance of airport security and the need for vigilance in preventing and responding to potential threats. It also underscores the seriousness of the crime and the need for harsh penalties for those who engage in such behavior.
According to plea documents, Estes constructed the device using material that is known to explode violently when coming in contact with a flame or other ignition source. The device contained nails and a shotgun cartridge, and the words ‘FOR GOD & COUNTRY’ were written on the strike strip of a matchbox attached to the device. Another message, ‘FOR ALL THE V/N VETS OUT THERE!!!,’ was written on the tape attaching a portion of a clock to the device. The alarm on the clock was positioned to go off at 6:00, but it was not actually set.
Estes also admitted to staging a backpack in the woods across from the airport, which contained some of the material he used to construct the device. Law enforcement located the backpack and found evidence of Estes’ involvement in the crime.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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