United States v. O'Neill

Michael O'Neill (defendant) was charged with making and possessing unregistered homemade pipe bombs after one exploded in his garage, severely injuring him and requiring leg amputation; investigators found evidence he planned to build more bombs, along with hate-filled posters he admitted were his. O'Neill, who said he'd made the bombs to remove a tree stump, had lost his job to alcohol abuse, had two prior drunk-driving convictions, and was being treated for depression and anxiety; he moved to overturn a magistrate judge's pretrial detention order, arguing his severe injuries meant he posed no danger and requesting release to his mother's custody.