Guilty Plea Reveals Cache of 155 IEDs, Unregistered Rifle After Explosion Injury
Brad Kenneth Spafford, 36, of Smithfield, pleaded guilty on July 18, 2025, to possessing an unregistered short-barrel rifle and 155 homemade improvised explosive devices (IEDs), some labeled “lethal” and “concussion.”
The plea follows a 2021 incident where Spafford lost his thumb and suffered severe injuries from a misfired launcher, initially blamed on fireworks.
Court documents reveal he routinely detonated homemade explosives on a family member’s rural property.
On Dec. 17, 2024, a search of Spafford’s property uncovered the IEDs, bomb-making equipment, riot gear, and an unregistered rifle.
The devices, capable of causing death or property damage, raise serious public safety concerns.
Spafford faces up to 10 years per charge, with sentencing set for Dec. 18.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and local agencies continue investigating, highlighting a growing threat of homemade explosives.
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