Lab Bomber Rearrested for Violating Immunity Pact

Government authorities said Friday that they granted immunity to the accused bomber of the Lawrence Livermore weapons laboratory, but that they later arrested him because he failed to adhere to the immunity agreement.

Stephen M. Dwyer, 40, reportedly told federal agents through his attorney on April 5 that he knew the location of a “bomb in the Los Angeles area ticking at some nuclear facility.” Dwyer promised to expose the members of a “responsible group,” the Nuclear Liberation Front.

There was no bomb in Los Angeles, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Josel Levin. “Dwyer breached the agreement,” he said.

As a result of the agreement, Dwyer had led authorities to a cache of explosives including 96 blasting caps stashed in a bank safe-deposit box in Santa Barbara, according to Levin.

Pounds of Explosives

Agents also recovered 36 sticks of dynamite, 50 pounds of ammonium nitrate fuel oil explosive and thousands of feet of fuse hidden in a remote area of San Benito County.

During Dwyer’s arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Wayne Brazil, defense attorney Barry Portman argued that because he believes the case will be dismissed on immunity grounds, Dwyer should be freed on bail while awaiting the outcome of the charges against him.

Brazil refused to release Dwyer but said he may reconsider after reading a statement Dwyer made to FBI agents after the immunity agreement.

Named in Indictment

Dwyer is named in a four-count indictment charging him with responsibility for the Thanksgiving weekend explosion near Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He is accused of unlawful transport of explosives, illegal making of a firearm, illegal possession of explosives and attempting to damage a federal building. He faces a maximum 30 years in prison and a substantial fine if convicted on all counts, according to Levin.

The bomb, planted in an automobile parked in the lot of an adjacent business, destroyed the car, blew a 3-foot hole in the parking lot and hurled debris over the top of a three-story building.

The previously unknown Nuclear Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the blast. The FBI suggested at the time that Dwyer may have been the group’s only member.

He was allegedly protesting nuclear weapons research conducted at the facility.

Attorney A. Brent Carruth negotiated the immunity for Dwyer with J. Stephen Czuleger, assistant U.S. attorney for anti-terrorism in Los Angeles.