Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Robert Lawrence Hunt, a 40-year-old resident of Bakersfield, has entered a guilty plea to charges of being a felon in possession of a destructive device and manufacturing such a device. This announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that between July 4 and 5, 2022, Hunt constructed a device filled with metal screws and explosives. This device, found at a community pool in his neighborhood, posed potential harm if detonated. At the time, Hunt lived in the house nearest to the pool. As a convicted felon with past convictions for two robberies and a burglary in Kern County Superior Court, Hunt is barred from possessing or creating firearms or explosive devices.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is handling the prosecution.
Hunt has been held without bail since September 2024 due to concerns about his threat to public safety. His sentencing is set for July 14, 2025. For possession of a destructive device as a felon, he could face up to 15 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. Additionally, manufacturing such a device carries penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and another $250,000 fine. The final sentence will be determined by the court after considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
