Horseheads man sentenced to state prison for explosives charges

Kendall LeValley
·1 min read
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HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WETM) – A Horseheads man has been sentenced to serve four to twelve years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges of making and detonating explosives following a bomb squad investigation at his home.

According to the Chemung County District Attorney’s Office, Michael P. Hilliard, 43, was sentenced on Friday, March 9, to a total of four to twelve years in state prison on charges of two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third-degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree.

Horseheads man pleads guilty to explosives charges

These charges stem from an investigation that began back on Nov. 5, 2023, when an explosion was heard in the town of Veteran. This led to a device being found on Merka Road and a bomb squad investigation on Hilliard’s home, which ultimately led to his arrest.

Hilliard’s sentencing is as follows:

  • Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, two to six years imprisonment

  • Reckless endangerment in the first degree, two to six years imprisonment

  • Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, two to six years imprisonment

Sentences for counts one and two will run simultaneously. The sentence on count three will run consecutively to counts one and two for a total of four to twelve years in state prison.

Local hunter speaks about hearing bombs in the Town of Veteran

A transcription of the sentencing can be found below:

Scanned-from-a-Xerox-Multifunction-Printer-1Download

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