RENO, Nev. (AP) — Sheriff's deputies are investigating whether a 26-year-old rural northeast Nevada man arrested with a cache of weapons and explosive devices may have any ties to extremist or terrorist groups.
Thomas Mooney of Spring Creek has been held in lieu of $1.3 million bail since he was arrested Saturday and booked into the Elko County Jail on suspicion of dozens of counts of firearm and bomb-making related charges. He's scheduled to appear in Elko Justice Court Friday afternoon.
Acting Undersheriff Kevin McKinney says a deputy who served in the Marines in the Middle East spotted what appeared to be improvised explosive devices while responding to a call early Saturday about a suicidal woman at his home in Spring Creek about 25 miles from Elko. They included a dozen functional pipe bombs, one with nails taped on the end.