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Man put on probation for bomb material in South Side home
YOUNGSTOWN
A former city man convicted of having bomb-making material in his South Side home was sentenced to probation and will pay restitution.
Randall Telshaw, 57, formerly of Ferndale Avenue, appeared before Judge M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for sentencing on a single count of illegal possession of explosive- making chemicals.
Jennifer McLaughlin-Smith, an assistant county prosecutor, told the court the prosecutor’s office would like to see Telshaw serve some time in prison. She also requested that Telshaw be ordered to make $913 in restitution to the fire department and undergo a mental-health evaluation.
McLaughlin-Smith said the material found in Telshaw’s home could have inflicted substantial harm to his neighbors if ignited.
Atty. Eric Norton, representing Telshaw, said there may have been the possibility for an accidental explosion, but he questioned how much damage would have been done to the neighborhood. He also said his client did not obtain the material to do anyone harm.
“We have a defendant here whose case really does scream for community control [probation],” Norton said. “No harm ever befell anyone, and there was never any intent to harm anyone.”
Police confiscated 23 manuals on explosives and firearms, 37 50-pound bags of potassium nitrate and 44 50-pound bags of ammonium nitrate, both fertilizers that can create an explosive device when mixed with other components.
Also seized were 330 pounds of aluminum powder and 220 pounds of potassium perchlorite, which, when mixed together, make flash powder, the prosecution said.
Police also collected six assault-type rifles, a shotgun, thousands of rounds of ammunition, 73 rocket-propelled grenades, a Ruger pistol, a bazooka, more than 300 pounds of smokeless powder and inert mortar shells from Telshaw’s home.
Judge Durkin said the court believes Telshaw did not intend to hurt anyone — the items were stored in his home because he believed “Armageddon was upon us,” and he had to protect his family.
The judge noted that a pre-sentence investigation labeled Telshaw as no threat to the general public.
Judge Durkin ordered Telshaw to serve two years’ probation, perform 200 hours of community service, undergo a mental-health evaluation and make restitution to the Youngstown Fire Department.
Telshaw could have served a prison sentence of six to 18 months and gotten a fine of up to $5,000 on the fourth-degree felony charge.