Bakersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing a Bomb and Being a Felon in Possession of a Destructive Device

FRESNO, Calif. — Robert Lawrence Hunt, 40, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to being a convicted felon in possession of a destructive device and manufacturing a destructive device, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

According to court documents, between July 4 and 5, 2022, Hunt constructed a destructive device containing metal screws and explosives, which was likely to cause injury if detonated. The device was found at a community pool in a residential neighborhood. The defendant was residing at a home closest to the pool. Hunt, a convicted felon, was previously convicted in Kern County Superior Court of two robberies and a burglary and is prohibited from possessing or manufacturing firearms, including destructive or explosive devices.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.

Hunt, who has been detained pretrial since September 2024 as a danger to the community, is scheduled for sentencing on July 14, 2025. For being a felon in possession of a destructive device, Hunt faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 for and manufacturing a destructive device. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.