BOULDER, Colo.—A Longmont man who pleaded guilty to three felony counts of possessing explosives will serve probation, but will not face incarceration.
A Boulder County district judge sentenced 51-year-old Ronald Swerlein on Friday to six years of probation and ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service.
He is also prohibited from possessing any explosives.
Swerlein originally was charged last year with 10 counts of possessing explosives after police responding to complaints from neighbors removed 400 chemicals, including volatile explosives, from his home.
Swerlein told police he was trying to develop a model rocket fuel.
He apologized in court for his actions, but said police and the media made the situation sound more dangerous than it was.
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Information from: Daily Camera,
