CONCORD — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)), published as received.
CONCORD – Webster resident Dale G. Stewart, 57, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 60 months in federal prison for building and detonating pipe bombs in Weare in April of 2023, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Stewart was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following completion of his incarceration.
Stewart pleaded guilty in April to three counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, specifically a destructive device. According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Stewart detonated two pipe bombs on Dustin Tavern Road and Sugar Hill Road in Weare, New Hampshire, on the evening of April 26 and on the morning of April 27, 2023. As part of the emergency response to these explosions, on the evening of April 27, 2023, law enforcement agents located and searched Stewart’s vehicle on South Stark Highway in Weare, where they recovered an undetonated pipe bomb, constructed of white PVC pipe, with glued end caps, wrapped in black electrical tape, with a green hobby fuse protruding from one of the end caps. The undetonated pipe bomb contained more than 4 ounces of an explosive material, consistent with the manufacturing of the two pipe bombs that Stewart had detonated earlier. During police questioning, Stewart indicated he built these destructive devices at his home in Webster.
“This defendant is a dangerous individual, who deployed and detonated explosives that could have taken the lives of many people, and who will now be serving years behind bars,” said Erin Creegan, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. “We are grateful for the quick actions of the Weare Police and the partnership with the ATF and all state and federal agencies who brought Mr. Stewart to justice. We will continue to prosecute violent individuals who put the safety of our communities at risk.”
“Dale Stewart manufactured and detonated explosive devices across the Weare, New Hampshire area, unlawfully possessed additional firearms and explosive material, and tried to flee to avoid prosecution,” said Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent-in-Charge for the New England region of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “It is clear Stewart is a danger to our community, and today’s sentence is necessary to protect the public. This investigation required timely and efficient cooperation between ATF and partner agencies to identify, locate, and arrest Stewart. ATF is grateful for, and proud of, these partnerships which greatly enhance public safety across New Hampshire. We specifically recognize the contributions of New Hampshire Department of Insurance Fraud Unit Director Brendhan Harris, who was integral to this investigation, and who sadly passed away before the conclusion of this case.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Weare Police Department; and the Federal Protective Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Hampshire State Police, the Bow and Webster Police Departments, the State of New Hampshire Department of Insurance, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega prosecuted the case.
