JCC Man Charged with Making Bomb

By Sam Thrift Wednesday, January 04, 2012

A 36-year-old sailor was arrested New Year’s Eve for manufacturing and possessing an explosive device in the Season's Trace subdivision in James City County.

The James City County Police Department asked for the James City Office Fire Marshal’s Office assistance around 6 p.m. New Year's Eve, after a domestic assault investigation revealed “the possible presence of a military hand grenade,” according to a press release.

The Fire Marshal’s Office requested the assistance of the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown explosive ordnance disposal personnel at Joseph Robert Yengel’s home, located at 845 Vail Ridge, because of the suspected presence of military ordnance. The Navy personnel and fire marshals discovered bomb making material and one partially completed improvised explosive device.

Police evacuated two adjoining residences before the hazardous materials and devices were removed from the house.

The bomb making material consisted of smokeless gunpowder, military heat tablets, copper wire and multiple pieces of approximately 6-inch long by ½-inch in diameter iron pipe with end caps.

The partially completed IED consisted of a similar iron pipe with end caps, a timing device and wiring. There was no explosive filler in the device and no power source. According to a press release, the addition of a battery and explosive filler, both of which were recovered at Yengel’s home, would have completed the IED.

Yengel is on active duty in the U.S. Navy. He is being charged with manufacturing and possession of an explosive device and is currently being held at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.