JUNEAU — Two out of three men accused of using pipe bombs to destroy a mailbox and a portable toilet in April were arrested when they returned to the scene of the crime to "admire the damage," according to police.
Criminal charges were filed Friday against Stephen D. Peterson, 19, Michael K. Peters, 20, and Kyle L. Livingston, 19. They are scheduled to make their initial appearances June 1 in Dodge County Circuit Court on felony charges related to the blasts.
Peterson faces a combined maximum 105-year prison term if convicted on three counts of being a party to possession of explosives for unlawful purposes and two counts of being a party to damage to property by use of explosives. Livingston and Peters each face a maximum 25-year prison term if they're convicted on two counts of being a party to possession of explosives for unlawful purposes.
Police believe that Peterson crafted two pipe bombs; the first was used to destroy a mailbox on Prospect Road in the town of Burnett April 20, and the second was used along with miniature propane tanks to destroy a portable toilet in Lost Lake Park April 21.
According to a complaint, the first break in the case came when Livingston and Robert M. Hansen, 18, arrived at Lost Lake Park April 22. Dodge County Sheriff's Det. Jim Rohr anticipated someone with knowledge of the blast would return to the park to "admire the damage," and was staked out in a discrete location.
When questioned the two men initially denied involvement, but told police that Peterson had blown something at Lost Lake Park the day before.
Upon searching Hansen's car, Rohr reported finding two plastic wrappers for galvanized end caps consistent with those used in the explosions. Police also identified Peterson, Livingston and Hansen as the three men who were photographed by a Farm & Fleet security camera shortly before they purchased galvanized pipe.
The second break in the case came less than three hours later when Peters returned to Lost Lake Park. He told Det. Robert Neuman that he was there to look at something Peterson and Livingston had blown up the previous night.
Peters told police he watched Peterson make one of the pipe bombs and had driven both Peterson and Livingston to both bombing locations. He said the residence on Prospect Road was chosen as a target "because of the castle that was there."
Peters also told police he drove Peterson and Livingston to Lost Lake Park April 21 in exchange for "a couple quarters" because Peters didn't have any money to buy food.
Peterson's apartment at 1808 North Center St. No. 17, in Beaver Dam was searched by a special agent with the State Department of Justice- Division of Criminal Investigation on April 22.
According to a complaint, "some tools and materials to make pipe bombs" were recovered along with a ballistic vest, police scanner, a .308 assault rifle and a .45 caliber semi-automatic hand gun in his apartment.
Peterson was taken into custody April 23. All three men have been held in Dodge County Jail on parole holds since their arrests. Hansen has not been charged in connection with the bombings.
amartin@capitalnewspapers.com