Former militia members, including Franklin man, plead guilty to explosives charges

Conspiring to possess destructive devices is a crime that carries a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison.

MORE ON THE CASE

• Timeline: How probe into alleged bomb-making for southern Ohio militia unfolded

• 7 details about a Franklin man's alleged bomb-making from court documents

The pair allegedly considered using the same methods as the Boston Marathon bombers to make their explosive devices more lethal, according to a federal indictment unsealed in February. The indictment said that King and Goodman were members of the United Sheepdogs of Ohio militia group and that there were at least 12 members of this group living throughout the Southern District of Ohio.

The indictment said King and Goodman allegedly established a small subset of the militia group and referred to it as the “Special Projects Team.” The defendants advocated that this team construct, use and stockpile explosives they called “crater makers.” The defendants allegedly conspired to possess and possessed destructive devices in violation of the National Firearms Act, specifically, bombs and parts necessary to make pipe bombs, the indictment said.

During an Oct. 12, 2018 trip to the Knob Creek Gun Range-Machine Gun Shoot in West Point, Ky., King allegedly purchased a wire assembly and inert grenades and suggested methods “(i)f we want to get real lethal,” to which Goodman commented would make them an elite group, according to the indictment.

At the Dec. 8, 2018 Sheepdog’s Christmas party at King’s residence in Franklin, King allegedly showed Goodman a collection of parts necessary to make a destructive device, including a steel pipe with end caps, electronic matches, and wireless relays, according to the indictment. Both men allegedly discussed in detail various improvised explosive devices and methods to construct them as well as the ease of placing them under a car seat or car engine wired into the breaking, the indictment said.

Also on that date, King displayed a CO2 cartridge that was equipped with a fuse and green electrical tape that was filled with an unknown substance that was referred to as a “crater maker,” the indictment said.

On Jan. 5, 2019, King and Goodman allegedly tested their “crater makers” at Goodman’s home in Ripley. They discussed construction and ignition methods in detail. Goodman referenced the Boston Marathon as an example of a remote detonation system that worked.