BURLESON, TX – Noah Robert Calderon, 22, will spend the next 14 years in federal prison after being sentenced today for possessing an unregistered firearm and receiving child pornography. The case, stemming from an investigation that began in October 2022, revealed a disturbing obsession with mass shootings and a clear path towards potential violence, authorities say.
Federal investigators say Calderon, a resident of Burleson, openly idolized the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Online, he plastered social media with images of himself clad in tactical gear, posing with AR-15-style rifles, and shared memes glorifying the Columbine killers alongside photos of homemade explosives. The FBI received initial tips regarding his online activity, triggering the investigation.
The probe intensified in March 2023 when authorities received reports that Calderon had detonated a homemade bomb in his neighborhood. A subsequent search of his residence and digital footprint uncovered a chilling stockpile of bomb-making materials in his garage: 659.2 grams of explosive powder, a lighter, cannon fuse, cardboard tubing, a glass jar filled with metal ball bearings labeled “frag”, and various tools used for measuring and mixing. His online searches confirmed a deliberate effort to acquire knowledge of bomb construction, including queries for “pipe bomb how to make,” “how to make propane bombs,” and specific details about the explosives used at Columbine.
But the bomb materials weren’t the full extent of Calderon’s depravity. A search of his phone revealed sexually explicit videos obtained during a video chat with a 13-year-old girl. Calderon admitted to knowingly saving the videos, acknowledging the girl’s age. Prosecutors presented this evidence as a crucial component of the case, painting a picture of a dangerous individual with a penchant for both violence and exploitation.
U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor handed down the 168-month sentence, followed by 30 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Leigha Simonton, hailed the sentencing as a victory for public safety. “We thank our law enforcement partners for working incredibly hard to take this potential bomber and child predator off the streets,” she stated. “We stand committed to continuing to root out and prosecute such dangerous individuals in north Texas.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Burleson Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Weimer, along with National Security Division Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Jacob Warren, prosecuted the case. Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating the case was a “shared success” born from tips regarding suspicious activity.
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