Posted on 06/11/2014 8:17:46 AM PDT by Rusty0604
They spent a year collecting used ammunition around Joint Base Lewis-McChord and melting it to sell as scrap metal – until one of the rounds exploded at a Tacoma home, injuring the couple and tipping police off to what they’d been up to.
Pierce County prosecutors have charged Juliette Parker, 32, and Cody Hyman, 27, with possession of an explosive device, third-degree assault and reckless endangerment. The couple, who now live in Texas, is set to be arraigned June 23.
Agents from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives joined the investigation and helped search the home. In the driveway, they allegedly found containers filled with disassembled 40 mm military munitions and three 81 mm mortar rounds that were still functional. The U.S. Army took those rounds and destroyed them, officials said.
Prosecutors said more charges may be filed against Hyman and Parker as the investigation continues.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewstribune.com ...
Article says they are being charged with having an explosive device.
At best, they were trespassing on range property and stealing brass. . .to me it appears they had unknowingly collected an unfired round. I say unknowingly because no one would put a live round in the middle of a bunch of brass and then try to melt it.
Neglect of ordnance, the moral equivalent of theft of ordnance, potentially putting family members or neighbors in grave danger.
A lot of people fell down here.
Could be unknowingly, or maybe they were ignorant of safety problems.
81mm mortar round is not something you want to be messing around with. It will take you out and probably a few of your neighbors as well.
It did not just explode in a melter.
He was melting them himself to hide their provenance.
If it had been the 81mm - yeesh.
It also says: In the driveway, they allegedly found containers filled with disassembled 40 mm military munitions and three 81 mm mortar rounds that were still functional.
That's explosive devices.
First, the army destroyed the evidence yet we’re supposed to believe it existed.
Second, Bergdahl deserts but “spending five years as a POW is punishment enough.” But blow up your home and still get prosecuted.
Oh. . .din’t rud thaa fur. . .
hall heck broke loose. . .literally.
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