Bellingham man sent to prison for drug charge; bomb charge dismissed
A Bellingham man will spend a half-decade in prison for drug possession, while his charges relating to having an improvised explosive device were dismissed.
Zachary Scott Larson, 41, was sentenced Monday, Feb. 3, in Whatcom County Superior Court to five years in prison. Larson pleaded guilty the same day to one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Larson was originally charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited explosive device and possession of explosives without a license, according to court records.
Larson pleaded guilty to the drug charge in exchange for the prosecution dismissing the remaining four charges against him, court records state. Larson agreed that he would be sentenced to the highest end of the standard range, would be on probation for a year after his prison sentence and pay $3,100 in fines and fees.
Larson also agreed that all explosives and explosive components will be destroyed and the firearm he had will be turned over to Bellingham police for destruction. Larson waived his right to appeal, court records state.
Bellingham police found Larson in a vehicle and arrested him on a warrant Sept. 25. During a search during his arrest, police found 10.67 grams of meth and 2.05 grams of heroin in Larson’s pants pocket, as well as a ledger of all the drug sales and debts, according to court records.
Upon further search of the vehicle, officers found a large number of baggies and $719 in cash. A K-9 searched the vehicle and found an additional 1.83 grams of meth and 0.86 gram of heroin, along with a rifle, according to court records.
Larson was a convicted felon at the time and was unable to legally possess a firearm.
Officers also found a plastic container with the lid taped shut, which appeared to be an improvised explosive device, in the vehicle after executing a search warrant. The container was moved to the hood of the car and Bellingham Police’s Hazardous Devices Unit was called.
The Hazardous Devices Unit used x-ray and a spectroscopy device to determine the container in the car was an IED, according to court records. The device included ammonium nitrate as the main explosive charge and aluminum powder to enhance the explosive components of the device, court records state.
“Due to the fashion of this device, there is a clear intent for the use of this IED,” the court records state.
Larson was found to not have a license to handle explosives, and the way the device was assembled showed it was clear Larson had intentions to use it, according to court records.
