Associated Press Published

Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Stolen Explosives

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A West Virginia man has pleaded guilty to possessing stolen explosives that authorities said he planned to use to blow up a federal courthouse. 

Jonathan Schrader of Elkins entered the plea Monday before a U.S. magistrate judge in Elkins.

U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld says the C4 plastic explosives were discovered in February.

According to a previous FBI affidavit, a witness told investigators Schrader had discussed detonating explosives in front of the Jennings Randolph Federal Center in Elkins and at the Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins.

Federal agents found the explosives in an outbuilding during a search. The affidavit says Schrader obtained the explosives from a juvenile who had stolen the material from his father’s office.

The 30-year-old Schrader faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.