Annapolis man denied bail in homemade explosives case: ‘He’s building bombs’

Lee Scott Wygal Ralston, an Annapolis man accused of making and possessing 32 explosive devices, was denied bail after a short hearing in Anne Arundel District Court in Glen Burnie on Thursday.

Ralston, 37, appeared remotely from detention. His attorney, David Fischer, said Ralston originally had the explosive devices at a rural family property outside of Salisbury, and said there was “zero evidence he intended to use these against anybody.”

Fischer entered the courtroom with Ralston’s mother, sister and girlfriend. He presented the judge with a letter on Ralston’s behalf that he said was written by an attorney friend of Ralston’s.

Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly Scanlon said one of the devices, if held, would blow off someone’s hand if detonated.

Ben Parker, an investigator with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told the judge that he estimated each device held between 30 and 50 grams of explosive powder. In Maryland, Parker said, the limit for a legal firecracker device is 50 milligrams.

“If you were to put [one of the devices] in your mouth or close to your heart, it would kill you,” Parker said.

Fischer described the devices as carbon dioxide canisters, and said they were “an amusement thing.” He said the explosives were moved from Salisbury to Annapolis because Ralston didn’t want his nieces to be able to access them, and that they were stored in a heavy gun box at the Annapolis property.

Judge Shaem C.P. Spencer at times appeared incredulous and exasperated with some of Fischer’s offered defenses.

“What weight or value do I give to the safe storage of a remotely detonated IED?” he said, using the abbreviation for an improvised explosive device.

Some of the devices had flash powder or BBs in them, according to charging documents. Fischer said the devices with BBs were meant to be dropped into a hole or tunnel to kill “varmints,” not hurt people.

Fischer said Ralston is an engineer, with a college degree and two boat repair businesses, who was described by people as “a tinkerer.”

“It cuts both ways,” Spencer said. “He’s an engineer. He’s building bombs. It cuts both ways.”

Spencer denied Fischer’s request for home detention, arguing that even though the allegedly illegal explosives were removed from his residence, Ralston could order more off Amazon and have them at his house later today.

“I am uncomfortable releasing Mr. Ralston,” Spencer said.

Fischer declined to comment after the hearing.

Ralston was charged following a state Department of Natural Resources investigation into alleged illegal night hunting.

He faces 32 counts each of possessing a destructive device and manufacturing a destructive device. All are felony charges.

Natural Resources Police said in a statement the investigation was “months-long” and included an incident in which a residence was hit by gunfire.

As of Wednesday afternoon, additional charges from a DNR investigation were pending, said Hunter Dortenzo, a spokesperson for the agency police.

Fischer, whose practice is in Glen Burnie, represented a Navy veteran charged with seditious conspiracy stemming from the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Ralston has a court hearing scheduled for May 13.