Man charged in Madison bombings targeting police, judge

Federal authorities announced Friday a 37-year-old Madison man has been charged in connection with two pipe bombings that rattled the Ohio River city in March.

David Theiring was charged with two counts of possession of a pipe bomb and a count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler of the Southern District of Indiana announced. Theiring is suspected of playing a role in placing pipe bombs that exploded on the sidewalk in front of the Madison Police Department and outside the home of Jefferson Superior Judge Mike Hensley. No one was injured in either explosion.

“Striking fear into the heart of a community will not be tolerated,” Minkler said. “Those who use violence directed at the criminal justice system or any of its members will be held strictly accountable.”
 
According to a press release from Minkler’s office, federal, state and local law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Theiring’s residence on April 1 and found bomb-making materials, a .22 caliber rifle, and a 12 gauge shotgun. Theiring’s possession of the destructive devices on the dates was unlawful; a search of the records of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record failed to reveal any destructive devices Theiring registered. Moreover, Theiring, who has two prior felony convictions, could not legally possess a firearm.
 
This case was the result of an investigation by the Indiana State Police, the Madison City Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
 
“ATF is committed to apprehending violent offenders and keeping the citizens of Indiana safe as we continue to work collaborative investigations with our state and local partners,” said ATF Group Supervisor Charley A. Scarber.
 
According to assistant U.S. attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who is prosecuting the case for the government, Theiring faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. An initial hearing will be held in New Albany before a U.S. magistrate judge.