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Taunton man faces weapons charges

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 22, 2012|By Christopher J. Girard

A Taunton military veteran is facing charges of stockpiling weapons after police seized homemade explosives, several firearms, and a slew of other dangerous items from his apartment, according to court records.

Devin Tellier, 28, is expected in Taunton District Court on Friday for a dangerousness hearing.

He is charged with possession of an explosive device, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of fireworks, and receiving a stolen firearm, according to documents filed in Taunton District Court.

Police obtained a search warrant and arrested Tellier without incident in his apartment about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Tellier cooperated with police, telling them where the weapons were, according to the documents.

Police seized two rifles, three pistols, a sawed-off shotgun, ammunition, body armor vests, two coils of booby trap wire, a manual on setting booby traps, four double-edged knives, a single-edge knife, a bag of fireworks, two homemade explosive devices, a pipe bomb, a crossbow, and crossbow darts.

Tellier was arraigned at Taunton District Court that day, Lisa Rowell, a Bristol County District Attorney spokeswoman said yesterday.

He is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing, which was scheduled for Friday but postponed a week at the request of Tellier’s attorney, Rowell said.

Tellier admitted to stealing a 40-caliber pistol, one of the weapons seized, from a location in Connecticut, according to court records. He has a firearm license, according to the records.

Rowell confirmed that Tellier is a veteran but declined to provide more details, including what branch of the military he served with. Tellier had a shoulder disability from a combat injury, said Richard Vadala, who lives a floor below him in an apartment building at 8 Blinns Court.

Vadala, 42, said in a brief phone interview yesterday that Tellier has lived in the apartment for two years.

“He didn’t seem violent,’’ Vadala said. “He handles himself well. I wonder if it was something going on and it took him two years to compile, or if it happened quickly.’’