Man pleads guilty to setting off bomb near Alabama Attorney General's office

An Alabama man has pleaded guilty in federal court to setting off an explosive device in front of the Alabama Attorney General’s office in downtown Montgomery.

Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, entered a guilty plea to the malicious use of an explosive device, said Jonathan Ross, U.S. attorney for the middle district of Alabama.

“This defendant built a bomb using nails and screws as shrapnel and detonated it outside the Alabama Attorney General's Office, endangering a public institution and members of the community,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Public servants should never be targeted for doing their jobs. The Justice Department will not tolerate such conduct, and we will use every resource at our disposal to prevent these attacks and hold perpetrators accountable."

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, during the early morning hours of Feb. 24, Calvert detonated an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General's Office. No injuries were reported.

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Calvert admitted during the plea hearing to manufacturing the device. He used nails and screws as shrapnel and accelerants to cause an explosion. Prior to planting the device, Calvert placed stickers on various downtown buildings. The stickers had graphics advocating for various political ideologies. Some stickers included the phrase “Support your local antifa.”

As reflected in the plea agreement, Calvert said he has no affiliation with antifa. After placing the explosive device near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit its fuse and fled the scene. Law enforcement arrested Calvert on April 10.

“This attack on the Alabama Attorney General's Office was an attack on the American justice system,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “Violent, targeted attacks like this, aim to harm, whether physically or through fear and intimidation, the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country. ATF is committed to holding those who attack American institutions accountable. I commend the work of the ATF and all our federal and local partners in bringing this defendant to justice.”

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Calvert in the coming months. At that hearing, Calvert faces a minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison with no possibility of parole. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“Calvert’s offense was a very serious one and today’s plea ensures that he will face significant consequences,” said Ross. “Calvert would not have been held accountable had it not been for the thorough and painstaking investigation conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement agents working together. I am grateful for the efforts of everyone involved.”

The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Man pleads guilty to setting off bomb near Alabama Attorney General's office