On Tuesday, authorities arrested Michael Carpenter after they found three pipe bombs, some black powder and fuses at a house he rented on Taylor Road off of Highway 158.
In a sweep of the property Wednesday, authorities carried away bags of evidence from the house Michael Carpenter was renting.
"He just said, 'We had them and were using them to blow up beaver dams,'" said Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent. "Of course, I don't know of any beaver dams in our area."
Court records show Carpenter was arrested three years ago and charged with assault on a government official. Those charges were later dropped.
Vincent said Carpenter has not worked in 10 years.
Aside from explosives, deputies found more than two-dozen small marijuana plants in Carpenter's back yard. Deputies suspect Carpenter sold the marijuana for income.
Vincent said the marijuana charges do not compare to what Carpenter faces for the explosives.
"The drug charges are substantially minor compared to the charges of weapons of mass destruction charges," Vincent said.
Carpenter is being held on a number or state and federal charges. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in court Thursday for the marijuana charges. A federal court date has not yet been set for the pipe bomb possession charges.
Agents say those charges could grow as they continue to search the property.
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