© 2025 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Pekin man faces federal charges for having homemade explosives

A police car's lights, which are on. The text "WCBU Police and Fire" are laid on top of that photo.

A Pekin man faces federal charges from the U.S. Department of Justice for possessing homemade explosive devices and a firearm as a felon.

According to a news release from the department, a May 17 traffic stop led to the arrest of 34-year-old Dalton Lee Mattus after police found syringes, a small scale and a locked bag in the passenger area of Mattus' car.

Inside the bag, police said they found a stolen handgun and two homemade "destructive devices." The devices are described as cylindrical, with yellow pyrotechnic fuses and glued shut at both ends with metal BB's mixed into the glue.

Police later searched Mattus' apartment, where officers found three more explosive devices, ammunition and the materials to make more explosives.

If convicted, the Department of Justice said Mattus faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

A detention hearing is scheduled for June 4 at the federal courthouse in Peoria.

Collin Schopp is a reporter at WCBU. He joined the station in 2022.