A Florida man will serve 20 years in prison following a 2024 incident where a pipe bomb exploded on a Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy during a roadside search.
Charles Legault received the 20-year prison sentence on Friday after pleading no contest to multiple charges, including making and possessing an explosive device, carrying a concealed firearm, and armed methamphetamine trafficking.
The charges stem from an April 5, 2024, traffic stop on Mosely Avenue. During a search of Legault’s vehicle, a PVC pipe packed with chlorine and brake fluid exploded, spraying Sgt. Ryan Owens with chemical shrapnel and powder.
Owens’ ballistic vest absorbed the majority of the flying shrapnel, but he inhaled the chemical powder during the blast. Emergency personnel rushed Owens to the hospital to treat respiratory issues, and he later made a complete recovery.
“The defendant is a very dangerous individual who will be off our streets for a long time,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said in a statement following the sentencing. “It is a troubling reality that there are people out there who engage in such activities. Our communities are safe with his absence from the streets!”
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