A 54-year-old man from Everett, Washington, has pleaded guilty in federal court to three felonies related to a pipe bomb explosion that destroyed a neighbor's car at an apartment complex. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.
Steven Goldstine admitted to unlawful possession of a destructive device on December 31, 2024; unlawful possession of ammunition on March 17, 2025; and unlawful possession of a firearm on September 4, 2020. His sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2025, before U.S. District Judge John H. Chun.
Court documents show that on December 31, 2024, police responded to reports of an explosion in a parked car at the apartment complex. The victims reported prior conflicts with Goldstine and received a voice message after the explosion that used racial slurs and referenced the incident. Investigators reviewed video footage from the area and identified clothing worn by the suspect. A search warrant at Goldstine’s residence uncovered items matching those seen in the footage as well as more than 700 rounds of ammunition.
Goldstine is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition due to previous felony convictions for burglary, arson, and possession of stolen property.
Authorities also reviewed an earlier incident from September 17, 2020, when Goldstine reportedly pointed a gun at protestors while in his car—a moment captured on video. Law enforcement searched his home at that time and seized the firearm involved.
The charges of unlawful possession of a destructive device and unlawful possession of a firearm each carry possible sentences of up to ten years in prison. Unlawful possession of ammunition carries up to fifteen years in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Chun based on sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the Everett Police Department, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
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