Man admits to placing homemade bombs in suburban Des Moines

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man accused of making and placing several homemade bombs in a Des Moines suburb has pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges.

The Des Moines Register reports that 47-year-old Chad Williams, of Johnston, pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing a firearm as an unlawful drug user and making a destructive device. In a deal with prosecutors, a third count was dropped.

Williams admitted in the plea hearing that he planted the homemade explosives in Ankeny last year. Two detonated as planned. The third was found intact by an 8-year-old girl. No one was injured.

He faces up to 10 years in prison on each count when he’s sentenced in May.