Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former Army explosive ordinance disposal technician pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to unlawful possession of explosive devices, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

 

John A. Panchalk, 42, Overland Park, Kan., pleaded guilty to possessing two M-67 fragmentation grenades that were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

 

The investigation began in May when police were called to the Parkville Self Storage Facility in Parkville, Mo. They found several trailers and vehicles had been vandalized. In and around one trailer, they found ammunition canisters, rocket fins, blasting caps, C-4 explosive and military grenade simulators. They determined Panchalk was the owner of the trailer.

 

When investigators contacted Panchalk at home in Overland Park, he was evasive when they asked him about the contents of the trailer. When they executed a search warrant at Panchalk’s home, they found 38 pounds of C-4 explosive, detonation cord, blasting caps, grenade simulators, incendiary devices and the two M-67 fragmentation grenades.

 

Sentencing will be set for a later date. The government has agreed to recommend a sentence of probation.

 

Beall commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Parkville, Mo., Police Department, the Overland Park Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Morehead for their work on the case.