CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Marietta, Ohio man, charged with allegedly placing suspicious devices on boats and barges on the Ohio River, will remain in federal custody while the case against him advances.
U.S. Magistrate Dwane Tinsley found probable cause in a hearing held Tuesday afternoon to retain Nathaniel Becker.
Becker, 42, was arrested last week after being charged with possession of one or more unregistered destructive devices.
Federal prosecutors allege Becker purchased supplies from a Lowe’s store in Ohio to make the destructive devices and then dropped them from the Interstate 77 bridge near Parkersburg. They landed on two different towboats on Oct. 21 and Oct. 25.
The case will likely be taken up by a federal grand jury.
Becker is being held in the South Central Regional Jail.