John E. Childress Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana
A federal jury has reached a verdict against Joshua W. Stearman of Anderson, Indiana. Stearman, aged 42, was found guilty of unlawfully possessing incendiary devices, commonly known as Molotov cocktails, and falsely impersonating a United States officer.
Court documents and trial evidence reveal that on December 12, 2023, an officer in Ingalls, Indiana, responded to a series of vandalism incidents, which included arson. A suspicious man was reported heading toward a vandalized residence, fleeing when security lights activated. The man ran back to a red Toyota RAV4.
When officers stopped the vehicle, Stearman claimed to be a Homeland Security Officer, showing both his ID and a purported government identification. Officers noticed Stearman wearing black gloves secured with black duct tape.
Stearman was taken into custody following a vehicle search. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered four bottles containing a fuel-smelling yellow-brown liquid, consistent with Molotov cocktails, along with a lighter.
Expert testimony from ATF personnel played a significant role in the trial. An ATF Forensic Chemist confirmed the presence of gasoline in the bottles. An ATF Destructive Device Examiner explained the bottles' design, intended for use as incendiary bombs. Molotov cocktails are classified as destructive devices, which are illegal under federal law.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Ingalls Police Department, with support from the Lapel, Indiana Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security. Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt oversaw the trial and will sentence Stearman at a future date.
Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress expressed his gratitude to the prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nate Walter.
