In Horseheads, Michael P. Hilliard, a 43-year-old resident, has been sentenced to a state prison term ranging from four to twelve years. His sentencing came after a guilty plea to charges related to the making and detonation of explosives. The investigation that led to Hilliard’s arrest began with a reported explosion in the town of Veteran on November 5, 2023.
The Chemung County District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday, March 9, that Hilliard faced convictions on two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment. This case unfolded following the discovery of an explosive device on Merka Road and subsequent bomb squad activities at Hilliard’s residence.
Hilliard’s prison terms for the weapons possession charges will run concurrently, while the sentence for reckless endangerment will follow consecutively, culminating in the four to twelve-year imprisonment.
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