Man released from federal custody in explosives case
A Miami County physician arrested after the FBI said it recovered explosive devices from his home was released on his own recognizance Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Dayton, according to his attorney.
Steven J. Werling, 53, of Concord Twp., near Troy, faces a federal charge under 26USCODE5861B for alleged unlawful receipt or possession of a firearm transferred to him in violation of that federal code chapter, according to the FBI’S Cincinnati Federal Field Office.
Representatives of the U.S.
Attorney’s office did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls seeking information on the status of the
case this week.
The FBI referred calls to the U.S. Attorney’s office because Werling had appeared in court. There was a hearing on Werling’s bond status Tuesday in federal court.
Defense lawyer Jon Paul Rion said Wednesday that Werling was released on his own recognizance by the court with standard conditions, such as that he abide by all laws and remain in the state of Ohio.
“It seems clear from the evidence that Dr. Werling’s interest in firearms, etc., is born out of a desire to protect himself and his property, not for any other purposes,” Rion said.
Werling initially was charged with possession-manufacture of dangerous ordnance in Miami County following an April 4 search of his home. Bail initially was set at $2 million cash in county Municipal Court.
That charge was dismissed last week when federal marshals picked up Werling at the Miami County Jail and took him to Dayton for an initial appearance in federal court.
A law enforcement affidavit filed from the April 4 search of his home said that during an interview, Werling “admitted to manufacturing explosive devices at his residence and provided details where the devices would be located inside his home.”
Local and federal law enforcement officials and a bomb squad team were at Werling’s home both April 4 and 5.
Also searched was a building at 804 E. Monument St. in Dayton. Court records from a 2020-21 lawsuit show Werling is part of a group that has owned that building, which includes a self-storage business.