Details Emerge From Explosion-Suspect Investigation

Court papers are yielding more information about North County resident George Jakubec, the resident of a home in unincorporated Escondido that was the site a bloody explosion last week.

Jakubec, 54, faces 28 criminal counts, most related to possession of explosives. On Monday, he pleaded not guilty to all charges, which included two robbery counts. The Escondido man is accused of compiling what’s believed to be the largest stockpile of a highly explosive material -- hexamethylene triperoxide diamine, or HMTD, -- ever discovered in the U.S.

A copy of the search warrant of Jakubec's home was obtained Tuesday. Benny Cruz, of the San Diego Sheriff's Department, wrote up the court papers, which contained the following statements:

Jakubec denied having anything explosive in the back yard, and Jakubec appeared evasive and nervous during his conversation with the fire captain.

During [a conversation Jakubec had with Deputy David Buether], Jakubec tried to change the topic several times and was not forthcoming with some of his responses, requiring Deputy Buether to elaborate and make further inquiries into the belongings in the back yard. At one point, Jakubec admitted to having four grenades.

Detective [Anthony] Portillo told me [Benny Cruz, of the San Diego Sheriff's Department] that Jakubec admitted to possessing additional explosives and bomb making materials in the back yard and inside the residence. During the course of Detective Portillo's investigation, it was learned that there were at least five jars of powdered explosives in the back yard.

Jakubec is no stranger to the courtroom. He appeared before the same judge last year, when he and his wife were charged with burglary and grand theft from a Fry's Electronics store. The couple was also caught with a controlled substance without a prescription. Jakubec pleaded guilty to the burglary charge and was sentenced to three years' probation.
   
The current charges Jakubec faces allege more than just illegal bomb-making. He is also charged with two robberies. One of them, on June 25, 2010, occurred on the same day as a bank robbery in Sorrento Mesa, where the suspect impersonated the infamous Geezer Bandit. The other, on July 17, took place on the same date as a bank heist in Carmel Mountain Ranch.

Jakubec is being held on $5 million bail.

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