Helena man suspected of threatening to attack Helena Public Schools building admits to illegally possessing homemade bombs, silencer

GREAT FALLS — A Helena man today admitted to illegally possessing homemade bombs and a silencer after being accused of attempting to attack a Helena Public Schools building, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Logan Sea Pallister, 25, pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered destructive devices and to possession of an unregistered silencer. Pallister faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each charge.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 22. Pallister was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that in May 2022, the Helena Police Department received information from an individual that Pallister possessed multiple bombs, had access to multiple firearms and had been making threats of committing an attack at a local high school. The person also indicated that Pallister discussed a desire to commit a Columbine-style attack at the high school and planned to use pipe bombs in addition to firearms. Further, Pallister had shown the individual numerous firearms and a large amount of ammunition that he kept in his car and had purchased a black trench coat and the same type of duffle bag used by the shooters in the attack at Columbine High School. The government also alleged that Pallister showed the individual a small propane cannister with a fuse sticking out of one end that he had retrieved from his car and had told the person it was a bomb he had made. Pallister also threatened to kill the individual if the person told anyone about the device. The individual reported the encounter to law enforcement.

On May 31, 2022 at about 4 a.m., police officers arrested Pallister as he was walking toward his car from his residence, wearing a black trench coat and carrying a bag. During a search of Pallister, officers found eight firearms that were concealed on his person. Law enforcement served search warrants on his home and car. In Pallister’s car, officers found nine additional firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, loaded magazines, firearm accessories, a Fram oil filter that appeared to have been modified to function as a homemade silencer and a green ammunition can that contained four suspected homemade pipe bombs. In Pallister’s residence, officers found additional firearms and ammunition, firearm components, money order documents, receipts and online orders related to chemicals, suspected chemical precursors for making explosives and a suspected homemade explosive mixture known as flash powder.

Homemade pipe bombs (Photos: U.S. Attorney’s Office)

A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives expert examined the pipe bombs, determined that they contained an explosive mixture that, when ignited, would result in an explosion, and concluded the four pipe bombs were destructive devices. An examination of the Fram oil filter found it had a threaded adapter attached to one end, multiple rounds had been previously fired through it and that it was intended to diminish the sound of a firearm, making the device a silencer. The suppressor and destructive devices were not registered as required by law and their possession is a violation of federal firearms laws.

Homemade silencer (Photos: U.S. Attorney’s Office)

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Helena Police Department, Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Lewis & Clark County Attorney’s Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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