BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A search warrant served on a Bellingham man’s residence following a reported violation of a no contact order several firearms along with what the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) described as improvised explosive devices.
According to an affidavit submitted to the Whatcom County Superior Court by prosecutors, deputies were advised that the man still possessed firearms after signing a declaration with the no contact order stating he had no weapons to surrender on October 19th. The search warrant was obtained and served on the residence in the 6400 block of Aldrich Road on October 26th.
Items located included the following.
- a loaded AR15 rifle
- a loaded Glock .22 handgun
- a .22 rifle
- 5 homemade explosive devices
- bags of powders used in making explosives
- 70 ammo magazines for various firearms
- thousands of rounds of ammo of varied calibers
Possession of explosives of the type found requires a state-issued license which it was determined the man did not have.
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The suspect, identified as Matthew John Simmons, age 43, was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail charged with suspicion of the following crimes.
- possession of explosives without a license
- unlawful possession of firearms
Simmons appeared in a preliminary hearing on October 27th where prosecutors requested bond be set at $200,000 and defense requested it be set at $5,000. The court set bail at $200,000 bond with a $20,000 cash option. He was released from custody later that day after a $20,000 cash bond was posted.
Simmons has prior felony convictions for assault and unlawful possession of firearms according to court records.
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