BOULDER, Colorado USA — A Boulder District judge this morning sentenced a Longmont man to six years of probation for keeping explosives in his home.

Ronald Swerlein in June accepted a plea deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to three felony counts of explosives possession in exchange for a sentence that will keep the 51-year-old former engineer out of jail.

Attorneys for Swerlein and prosecutors agreed to the six-year probationary sentence as part of the agreement. It also stipulates a reconsideration in three years.

Without the deal, Swerlein could have faced between two and six years in prison. He also will be required to perform 200 hours of community service, comply with mental health treatment, participate in restorative justice with his neighbors, and may not possess explosives. Prosecutors dismissed seven counts of explosives possession and one misdemeanor drug possession charge.

Swerlein told Boulder District Judge James C. Klein this morning that he believed he was within the law on the amounts of explosive chemicals that he had in the house and was trying to invent something he could patent to bring in money. A car accident several years ago left him with physical and brain injuries that left him unable to work.

"When doctors told me I couldn't work again I think in the bac of my mind I didn't accept that ," Swerlien said. "I had an idea that maybe I could invent something and, with my disabilities, find an income."

Swerlein, who was an electrical engineer, has several patents. He told Klein that he never intended to break the law or harm anyone.

Klein said he couldn't imagine what it would be like not to be able to work. Swerlein said he would like to serve his community service hours at the Longmont Humane Society, where his wife volunteers. Klein agreed it would be a good idea.

"Mr. Swerlein, good luck to you," Klein said. "No more tinkering with things that go boom."

Last summer, Swerlein’s neighbors complained to police that they heard explosions in the area of the 2400 block of Sunset Drive in north Longmont.

Police in June 2007 were seeking tips from the public on a series of small explosives found in the parking lot at the Longmont Clinic.

Tips led to Swerlein, who police determined had been experimenting with explosive chemicals, but was not the amateur bomb maker leaving the improvised devices. Police cleared Swerlein’s homes of the chemicals over two days. 

Copyright © 2008, Longmont Times-Call.