KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
Federal officials said a former Army explosive ordinance disposal technician was charged last week in federal court with unlawful possession of grenades.
John A. Panchalk, 42, Overland Park, Kan., was charged with one count of possessing two M-67 fragmentation grenades that were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, according to authorities.
According to an agent’s affidavit, the investigation began May 19 when police were called to the Parkville Self Storage Facility in Parkville, Mo. They found several trailers and vehicles had been vandalized. In and around one trailer, they found ammunition canisters, rocket fins, blasting caps, C-4 explosive and military grenade simulators.
They determined Panchalk was the owner of the trailer.
When investigators contacted Panchalk at home in Overland Park, he was evasive when they asked him about the contents of the trailer.
When they executed a search warrant at Panchalk’s home, they found 38 pounds of C-4 explosive, detonation cord, blasting caps, grenade simulators, incendiary devices and the two M-67 fragmentation grenades.
The Kansas City Star newspaper reported that Panchalk worked as a firearms instructor at Centerfire Shooting Sports. His instructor biography appeared on the shooting range’s website before someone removed it Friday morning.
According to the biography, the Star reported that Panchalk is a decorated combat veteran who spent 10 years in the Army as an explosive ordnance disposal officer.
After leaving the Army as a captain, he worked as a security contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan and served as an instructor at the Army’s explosive ordnance disposal training center in Alabama, The Star reported.
He also spent a year at the Afghan National Police Academy in Kabul as part of a team that trained other instructors and set up a curriculum for that country’s bomb disposal school, according to his online biography.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.