Charlie Leroy Russell

Based on information that a government facility was a potential target for an explosion, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant March 23 at a residence in Wayne Township, southwest of Woodsfield.

Charlie Leroy Russell, 50, was charged with four counts of Unlawful Possession of Dangerous Ordnance. All are Felony 5 offenses. He is also charged with five counts of Illegal Manufacture or Process of Explosives which are Felony 2 offenses. Additional charges are pending Grand Jury review. Russell is currently held at the Noble County Jail under $300,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for March 30 at 10 a.m. in Monroe County Court.

During the March 23 search officers seized numerous blasting caps, improvised explosive devices, suppressed weapons, large amount of ammunition and chemical compounds used to manufacture explosives. Documents and other literature were discovered that described the construction and ingredients necessary to create explosives. Milling equipment was seized from the residence that was used to manufacture the firearm accessories.

An additional warrant was executed on March 24 with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, and Columbus Bomb Squad. A machine milled improvised booby trap was located outside the residence. All recovered explosive compounds were tested by agents from ATF. The remaining compounds were detonated at a facility north of Woodsfield on State Route 800 due to the instability of the explosives.

It is undecided at this time if the charges will stay at the state level or be turned over to federal officials for prosecution. Sheriff Charles R. Black Jr. stated that determination will be made after consultation with the Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Reithmiller.