Waxahachie Man Charged With Firearms Offense Is Ordered Detained By Federal Judge

Clayton Earthman Arrested This Week with a Firearm, Large Amount of Chemicals, Supplies and Literature Suspected to be for Bomb Making Purposes

DALLAS — Clayton Todd Earthman, 24, of Waxahachie, Texas, appeared this afternoon in federal court, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez, who ordered that he remain in federal custody during the pendency of the matter. Earthman was arrested on June 18, 2013, when officers with the Dallas Police Department (DPD) discovered a firearm, bomb-making chemicals and related literature in his vehicle. He is charged in a federal criminal complaint with being an unlawful user and addict of controlled substances in possession of a firearm. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña.

According to the complaint, on the afternoon of June 18, 2013, DPD officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Earthman. Officers recovered a .357 Glock pistol, large amounts of chemicals, supplies and literature suspected to be for bomb-making purposes, hand-written notes describing how to build explosive devices and booby traps from his vehicle.

Earthman later advised that he is a drug user, had used methamphetamine three days prior and was addicted to marijuana. He advised that he is taking methadone to quit using heroin, which he used for one year. Earthman further advised law enforcement that he is a “Doom’s day prepper,” and that he had more firearms and large amounts of chemicals in his residence.

During today’s hearing, evidence was presented that officers discovered additional unlawful controlled substances, a firearm, chemicals and a live alligator when they executed a federal search warrant at Earthman’s residence on June 20, 2013.

A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The maximum statutory penalty for the offense as charged is 10 years in federal prison.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taly Haffar is in charge of the prosecution.