KINGMAN – A man arrested for allegedly constructing an explosive device where he lived with his grandmother in Bullhead City appeared for arraignment Thursday at the Mohave County Law and Justice Center in Kingman. Defense attorney Mike Shin waived reading of the indictment and entered not guilty pleas on behalf of his client, Bryan Chambers, 23.
Chambers is charged with making terrorist threats, misconduct involving weapons, prohibited possession of a weapon, possession of narcotic drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia through a grand jury indictment handed up May 14 by a Mohave County Grand Jury. Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle informed the defendant he could face many years in prison if convicted of the offenses.
Chambers is held on $1.5-million bond at the Adult Detention Facility. Judge Carlisle scheduled a June 2 bond reduction hearing to consider Shin’s request for review of release conditions, followed by a June 10 pre-trial conference.
A monitored phone call with Chambers’ father, an inmate at a state prison in Yuma, reportedly revealed the younger Chambers’ admission that he had built “a firecracker” and referenced the Don Laughlin Bridge over the Colorado River as a potential target. Bullhead City police say a small explosive device was seized at a 793 Church Street residence.
A Probable Cause statement indicated that Chambers told police he was joking about using the bomb on the bridge.
Police public information officer Emily Fromelt said the device is safely stored as investigation continues. Questions regarding the potential destructive capability of the device have gone unanswered.
No new details have surfaced in the case since Chambers was arrested May 7, other than information relative to initial legal proceedings. Federal authorities have been informed, if not involved in the case, though prosecution currently rests with Deputy County Attorney James Schoppmann.
Dave Hawkins
