No Bail for Pennsylvania Man With Explosives in Suitcase

PHILADELPHIA – A Pennsylvania man confessed to putting explosives, fuses and a lighter inside a suitcase he checked on a commercial flight to Florida. He fled from the Lehigh Valley airport because he feared being arrested, federal authorities stated in a court filing Thursday.

Marc Muffley, 40 of Lansford called his girlfriend for a ride after he heard his name being typed at the airport. He quickly switched his number to prevent being tracked down, according to prosecutors.

Sherri A. Stephan, Assistant United States Attorney, stated that the danger he had created was “just astonishing” during a Thursday court hearing. She asked for bail to be denied by a judge. “It is credit to TSA (the Transportation Security Administration), that they were able to locate the device immediately and stop it from being put on an aircraft.”

Muffley wanted to set off fireworks at a Florida beach where he claimed he was a former construction worker who sometimes cares for his grandfather.

U.S. Magistrate Pamela A. Carlos decided to hold him without bail because Muffley was a flight risk and a threat to the community.

Authorities claimed that the explosion risk was increased by the fact that the explosive powder was contained in the same bag as the other items.

Prosecutors wrote that the baggage contained a canful of butane, a lighter and a pipe containing white powder residue. They also found a battery-powered wireless drill, two GFCI outlets taped together, and a memorandum.

The memo stated that “His actions seriously endangered the lives of airport workers, patrons, and if explosive hadn’t been intercepted the flight’s passengers would have been destroyed.”

According to a criminal complaint, Muffley was charged with possessing an incendiary or explosive device in an airport.

Jonathan McDonald, the defense lawyer, claimed that the items were not incendiary and did not satisfy the requirements of the second accusation. Muffley was not able to attend the hearing via videoconference from jail.

“No one has ever offered a single theory about how this could have happened.” McDonald’s stated that this was unlikely to happen in a bag.

Carlos however found probable cause to maintain both charges.

Muffley was taken into custody at his home on Monday night hours after he checked in for the Allegiant Air flight from the Lehigh Valley International Airport. The flight was headed for Orlando.

The memo stated that his record included misdemeanor charges for drug possession, theft, and driving under the influences. This led to some jail stints. Authorities said that his girlfriend claimed that he was afraid of being arrested at the airport for an outstanding child support warrant.

They claimed to have found a 3-inch “circular compound” wrapped with paper and plastic wrap. This compound contained flash powder, as well as other materials that are used in commercial-grade fireworks.

It was attached to a “quick fuse” like a candlewick. This fuse was apparently part of the original manufacturing of the compound. They also added a slow-burning, “hobby fuse” which appeared to have been added later.

According to the criminal complaint, officials believe that the materials could have been ignited by heat or friction and pose a serious risk to the plane’s occupants.

By Maryclaire Dale