Prosecutors are pushing for the continued detention of a Virginia man after the discovery of what may be the largest cache of 'finished explosive devices' in FBI history at his property near Norfolk. The man, identified as Brad Spafford, was apprehended on a charge of possessing an illegal unregistered short-barrel rifle.
During the arrest, FBI agents, including bomb technicians, conducted a search of Spafford's 20-acre home and uncovered over 150 apparent pipe bombs, some marked as 'lethal.' The devices were found in various locations on the property, including a backpack, a detached garage, and a wearable vest.
Prosecutors allege that Spafford used images of President Joe Biden for target practice, expressed support for political assassinations, and sought sniper-rifle shooting qualifications at a local range. They also mentioned his comments following an assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump, where he referenced Vice President Kamala Harris.
The investigation into Spafford began when a neighbor reported his stockpiling of weapons and homemade ammunition, as well as an incident where he lost three fingers while handling a homemade explosive device in 2021.
In response to the prosecution's arguments for detention, Spafford's defense team emphasized that he was charged with only one count of possessing an unlawful firearm, with no evidence of him using the weapon. They highlighted that explosive technicians had to rig the devices for detonation and that there was no proof of Spafford's ability to set them off.
Furthermore, his attorneys pointed out that despite being under surveillance for two years, there was no indication of Spafford engaging in violent acts. They defended his use of political figures' likenesses at a shooting range as common practice and asserted that his controversial comments are protected by the Constitution.
