Four plead guilty to hash oil manufacturing explosions | U.S. District Court

our men charged in July 2014 with two separate hash oil explosions pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle

November 30, 2014 6:22 pm

Four men charged in July 2014 with two separate hash oil explosions pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. The charges relate to explosions in Kirkland on January 1, 2014 and in Bellevue on November 5, 2013.  Sentencing hearings for the defendants are scheduled for March.

Daniel James Strycharske, 28, and Jesse D. Kaplan, 31, pleaded guilty today to Endangering Human Life While Manufacturing Controlled Substances, Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises and Manufacturing Hash Oil and Marijuana in connection with the Bellevue explosion and fire on November 5, 2013 at the Hampton Greens apartment complex. Former Bellevue Mayor Nan Campbell was hospitalized for a broken pelvis she suffered trying to escape the flames. She later died following complications after her hospitalization. Two other apartment residents suffered shattered bones as they had to jump from their upper level apartments.

Robby Wayne Meiser, 46, and Bruce W. Mark, 62, pleaded guilty to Endangering Human Life While Manufacturing Controlled Substances in connection with the January 1, 2014 explosion and fire at the Inglenook Apartments in Kirkland.  The explosion and fire threw debris some 25 feet, moved the north wall of the building 6-8 inches, and disconnected the roof from the building walls.

Endangering Human Life While Manufacturing Controlled Substances is punishable by up to ten years in prison. Maintaining a Drug Involved Premises is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and Manufacturing Hash Oil and Marijuana is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The cases were investigated by multiple local and federal agencies including: the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bellevue Police Department, the Seattle Police Department, and the Kirkland Police Department.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Vince Lombardi.