SEQUIM — A Sequim man was in the Clallam County jail Monday after county and state law enforcement officials said they found explosives and a gun in his garage.
Kenneth Simmons Jr., 52, was taken into custody Friday when state Department of Corrections officers found a .22-caliber rifle during a visit to the home in the 100 block of Crown View Lane and pipe bombs were found shortly thereafter, said Sgt. Eric Munger of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
Corrections officers had been seeking another person at the home but met with Simmons in the garage, where they conducted a brief search and found a .22 caliber rifle within arm’s reach of where Simmons had been sitting, Munger said.
According to court documents, in February 2013, Simmons pleaded guilty to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and first degree possession of stolen property, and was banned from being in possession of firearms.
Officers detained Simmons and called the Sheriff’s Office to begin an investigation of the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, he said.
Deputy Matt Murphy obtained a search warrant for the residence, and during the search officers located what appeared to be two pipe bomb explosive devices.
“Our guys only stayed long enough to snap one photo, then got out of there,” Munger said.
The State Patrol Bomb Squad was called to the scene and continued the search.
Munger said a statement made by Simmons about his planned use for the bombs is not available pending court proceedings.
Two additional pipe bombs were located in the garage. Two of the four devices were found to contain explosive powder, Munger said.
The Bomb Squad took over the scene, completed the search and removed the explosives, he said.
On Monday, members of the State Patrol squad were not available for more information on the size and contents of the explosives or what was done with them after their seizure.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
