Pipe bombs allegedly made by W. Caln resident, possessed by Downingtown man
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Istvan Merchenthaler
A multi-agency, months-long investigation into a cache of explosives found in a storage locker in East Whiteland Township has apparently led to indictments against two Chester County men that were announced on Friday, Jan. 31, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Istvan Merchenthaler, 43, of Downingtown, was indicted for at least the fourth time. He is charged with weapons offenses related to his possession of unregistered firearms, which included improvised explosive devices (IEDs) – 60 PVC pipes and 400 cardboard tubes, “all center-primed with flash powder – a 9mm Cobray M-11 semi-automatic machine pistol, and ammunition, the Jan. 30 indictment said.
Ryan Joseph Hribick, 32, of West Caln Township, was charged by indictment Jan. 30 with one count of possession of unregistered firearms, one count of manufacturing and dealing explosive materials, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, and one count of witness tampering, a federal news release said. Court documents do not specify a link between the two defendants.
