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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Three Admit To Possessing Explosives Men Not Charged With Break-In, Which Is Tied To Drug Ring

Bill Morlin Staff Writer

Three North Idaho men have admitted possessing 500 pounds of explosives stolen last summer from a locked mining company bunker in Shoshone County.

The theft was tied to a large methamphetamine ring known as The Circle, say agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms.

The thieves apparently hoped to sell the explosives to militia groups or underworld figures to make money to buy methamphetamine, authorities say.

The three were not charged with the break-in, but with possessing the explosives. Authorities haven’t said who committed the burglary of the mine bunker.

Corey Lee Miller, Kent Allen Johnson and Joseph E. Tepner-Galland entered guilty pleas Wednesday in Coeur d’Alene before U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge.

The judge ordered them held in federal custody until they are sentenced Feb. 16.

Each defendant struck plea bargains with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Idaho in an attempt to avoid harsher sentences.

In exchange for their guilty pleas, other charges will be dismissed against the defendants.

Miller, a 34-year-old unemployed mining technician, and Johnson, 31, both pleaded guilty to possessing stolen explosives.

Johnson of Post Falls, was arrested Aug. 7 after a high-speed freeway chase in Coeur d’Alene. Miller, of Osburn, was arrested the following day.

Conspiracy charges against Johnson and Miller will be dismissed as part of their plea agreements.

Tepner-Galland, 26, known as “Jet,” pleaded guilty to transportation or receipt of a stolen explosive by a felon. Conspiracy and possession charges will be dismissed as part of his deal.

Tepner-Galland was arrested in Coeur d’Alene on Aug. 12 by ATF agents and Shoshone County deputies.

The explosives were stolen July 30 from a locked munitions bunker at the Lucky Friday Mine near Wallace.

Four hundred pounds of the explosives were recovered Aug. 9 in a rural area south of Sandpoint.

Another 10 pounds of the stick powder was recovered by ATF agents in the attic of a Coeur d’Alene business owner by a man who knows one of the defendants.

A portion of the explosives apparently was used in a poorly executed attempt to bomb a night bank depository in Post Falls. No money was obtained.

Authorities have differing opinions on what happened to the remaining 80 to 90 pounds of explosives.

One suspect claims the remainder was washed down a drain at a motel.

“I’m not certain about that,” said ATF senior agent Herb Byerly. “I think it’s still hidden around here, somewhere.”

, DataTimes