A Milford Township man could face a significant jail sentence after authorities discovered four improvised explosive devices at his home.

            On Thursday, David W. Surman Jr., 30, of Old Bethlehem Pike, was arrested and charged with four counts each of unlawful possession of a weapon of mass

David W. Surman Jr.

destruction, possessing an instrument of crime and possessing a prohibited offensive weapon as well as one count each of illegal possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

            Surman was charged as a result of an investigation into explosions reported in upper Bucks County since April 1, according to an email from Larry King, the director of communications for the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.

            "This is a long time coming," said Matt Weintraub, the Bucks County district attorney, during a news conference Thursday afternoon at the Richland Township Police Department. 

            State troopers from the Dublin barracks arrested Surman at his residence at 6:05 a.m. while law enforcement officials served a sealed search warrant, according to Weintraub.

            Law enforcement officials from the Montgomery County Bomb Squad and the State Police, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also served a similar warrant at the Consolidated Chemical & Solvents LLC, located in the 2200 block of Spinnerstown Road, which Surman owns and serves as president.

            According to Weintraub, the charge of unlawful possession of four IED's could earn the defendant a prison sentence of between 10 and 20 years. He described one of the bombs as 18-inches long with four fuses - a weapon of mass destruction. "It was ready to be detonated," he said.

            The devices consisted of a container, a fuse and an explosive material, according to the police criminal complaint filed in the New Britain court of District Judge Regina Armitage. It is believed that two of the devices contain Erythritol Tetranitrate, and two contain flash powder.  

            Gregg Shore, the first assistant district attorney, stated during an arraignment before District Judge Lisa Gaier, that law enforcement officials also removed 10 firearms and suspected narcotics and drug paraphernalia from Surman's residence. 

            Gaier set bail in the case at 10 percent of $750,000 cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 10 before Armitage.