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Shop NowBrad Spafford had what the FBI likes to call a “cache” of home-made explosive weapons. A whole bunch of them. He also had far-right, anti-government movement social media proclivities. While he may have all sorts of “tendencies” or even “inclinations” he’s not a “danger to the community,” his lawyer argues.
Big bust for FBI
The FBI was concentrating so hard on busting Brad Spafford for his improvised explosives collection that they missed the ISIS terrorist who killed 15 people with an electric truck on Burbon Street, New Year’s Eve.
Doesn’t the record breaking number of pipe bombs they seized count for anything? Feds wonder. Not much, the defendant’s lawyer insists.
According to the bureau, FBI agents “discovered more than 150 bombs during a raid on a farm in Virginia.”
They’re patting themselves on the back for hauling in “the largest such cache seized by the law-enforcement agency in its history.” Spafford was arrested on December 17 but the bureau waited until the 31st to tell the public.
The resident of Isle of Wight County was arrested “after a tip-off that he was stockpiling weapons and homemade ammunition on the property he shares with his wife and two young children.”
FBI investigators are making a big deal about some of the devices because they were “found in a bedroom in an unsecured backpack labeled ‘#nolivesmatter.‘” That makes him a deplorable MAGA supporting far-right insurrectionist.
No danger to community
Stafford quickly lawyered up. His attorney fervently denies that his client “is a danger to the community.” He’s seeking a release from pre-trial detention. So far, “the suspect has so far only been charged with possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle.” FBI Investigators claim “more charges are likely” but they haven’t filed them yet.
The government’s claim he’s dangerous, the lawyer pointed out, was “rank speculation and fear mongering,” because the suspect had no criminal record. “There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone and the contention that someone might be in danger because of their political views and comments is nonsensical.”
Prosecutors were hoping that the bombs were “preliminarily assessed as the largest seizure by number of finished explosive devices in FBI history” would be enough to do the trick. They weren’t expecting a well trained defense attorney to start shooting holes in their case.
Stafford has to be dangerous, they argue. He “used photos of U.S. President Joe Biden for target practice and expressed hope that Vice-President Kamala Harris would be assassinated.” Ever heard of free speech? The lawyer countered.
Another good reason to hold him, the feds counter is that Stafford “recently sought qualifications in sniper-rifle shooting at a local range.” Not only that, he’s definitely a danger to his own family. “In addition to the pipe bombs, investigators say they found a jar of a highly volatile explosive called HMTD, which the FBI notes is so unstable it can be exploded merely by a temperature change and does not require any other detonator to explode.”
It was in the freezer. labeled “Dangerous” and “Do Not Touch,” and “next to food that was accessible to the children.” His neighbor ratted him out and wore a wire for the FBI. The neighbor “also told investigators that Mr. Stafford had discussed fortifying the property with a turret for a 50-caliber firearm on the roof.” The judge agreed with the defendant’s lawyer and “ordered that Mr. Spafford be released with electronic monitoring.“
