Denton, Maryland – Three Caroline County men have been charged with Manufacturing and Using Destructive Devices, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Officials said on April 11, 2018, fire investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal were requested to respond to the 200 block of South 6th Street in Denton(about 20 miles west of Harrington, Delaware) by the Denton Volunteer Fire Company.
When the Deputy State Fire Marshal arrived, he discovered two incendiary devices, commonly referred to as Molotov Cocktails near a detached shed in the backyard of the residence, according to officials.
The devices had failed to function as designed and had self-extinguished before the fire department’s arrival and before they could cause any damage. During the investigation, it was learned that the two Molotov Cocktails had allegedly been thrown from a vehicle towards a shed that was only 50 feet from the occupied house, according to the fire marshal.
Deputy State Fire Marshals said they developed Michael H. Walker (19) of Ridgely, Edward D. Lynch (19) of Greensboro and Brandon L. Bradley (20) of Ridgely as persons of interest and later applied for and received arrest warrants for all three men. They were all served the warrants yesterday, seen by the Caroline County Court Commissioner and held with no bond.
All three men were charged with two counts of Manufacture and Possessing a Destructive Device, four counts of Reckless Endangerment, Attempted Malicious Burning, Attempted Arson in the Second Degree, Attempted Malicious Destruction of Property under $1,000.00 and Conspiracy to Manufacture and Possess a Destructive Device.
If found guilty of all charges, each person faces a maximum penalty of 116 years and 8 months in prison and/or $801,000.00 in fines, according to authorities.
