Two Charged in Explosives Thefts

Adam Harding Ray, 17, of Hillsborough was arrested by localpolice and federal agents, and charged with breaking into PiedmontMinerals Company near downtown Hillsborough in December and again inMarch.

Cameron W. Johnson, 17,was charged with the March break-in and theft.

Police Sgt. Bruce Gordon said investigators recovered two bags of anammonium nitrate-fuel oil mixture - similar to the material used in theOklahoma City bombing - and more than three cases of blasting caps.

Initially, authorities had feared the thefts might have been connectedto extremist groups, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms hasdiscounted that possibility.

"We don't see any indication that this was planned and executed by anyparticular group," said ATF agent Mark Logan. Hillsborough police believethe thefts were motivated by financial gain, and that Ray may have soldsome of the blasting caps.

Ray remains in custody in the Orange County Jail in lieu of a $100,000secured bond. Johnson was released into his father's custody, and isscheduled for a court appearance Monday.

Investigators say they found one bag of the ammonium nitrate mixtureand many of the blasting caps under Ray's home; the other bag of nitrateand two cases of blasting caps were recovered from an abandoned car inOrange County. Some blasting caps and several dynamite sticks are stillmissing, although a few of the caps had been exploded near the Ray home.

Explosives experts from the State Bureau of Investigation took chargeof the recovered materials.

Ray was identified as a suspect when he was seen in a town park nearthe mining company. Authorities said he led them to Johnson.

Federal agents continue to search for 350 pounds of dynamite stolenfrom Asheville's Austin Powder Company late last year. They do notbelieve the Asheville and Hillsborough thefts were related. Rewardstotal $10,000 for information in the Austin Powder theft. If you haveinformation, call the BATF at 888-283-8477 (ATF-TIPS).