Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, Alabama, pleaded guilty in federal court to the malicious use of an explosive device, officials announced Friday.
“This defendant built a bomb using nails and screws as shrapnel and detonated it outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, endangering a public institution and members of the community,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Public servants should never be targeted for doing their jobs. The Justice Department will not tolerate such conduct and will use every resource at our disposal to prevent these attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.”
According to court documents, Calvert detonated an explosive device in the early morning hours of Feb. 24 outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in downtown Montgomery.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
During the plea hearing, Calvert admitted to manufacturing the device using items like nails and screws as shrapnel, along with accelerants, to cause the explosion.
Before planting the device, Calvert placed stickers on various state buildings, displaying different graphics and advocating for various political ideologies. Some stickers included the phrase “Support your local antifa.”
However, Calvert claims he has no affiliation with Antifa.
(News Report Earlier This Year)
After placing the explosive device near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit the fuse and fled the scene. He was arrested on April 10.
Calvert’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI, with assistance from the ATF, is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.