NORTHAMPTON — The man authorities say detonated multiple explosives in the area of Lower Mill Pond in Easthampton on the night of the Super Bowl earlier this month was held without bail Monday morning.
A judge ordered Bryan O. Desmarais, 41, of 36 Ridgewood Terrace in Easthampton, held in jail until his next court date, which is May 1. Desmarais was in court Monday for a scheduled dangerousness hearing in which a judge was to determine bail, if at all, based on whether he posed a threat to himself or others.
But before the hearing, attorneys on the case agreed to waive the hearing and to automatically hold Desmarais without right to bail. Defense counsel Alan Rubin told Northampton District Court Judge W. Michael Goggins that Desmarais underwent an evaluation at Hampshire Jail and House of Correction where he was deemed competent.
Additionally, Goggins allowed a motion, filed by Rubin, for a gag order with regard to all involved parties and law enforcement officials. This means anyone with direct ties to the case is barred from speaking about it to members of the news media or the public.
A multi-agency investigation following multiple explosions near Lower Mill Pond on the night of Feb. 5 led authorities to arrest Desmarais on charges of possession of ammunition without a firearms owner identification card, possession or control of an incendiary device or material, possession of explosives or destructive devices, and throwing, placing or launching explosives.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his Feb. 17 arraignment. The day before, Easthampton Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Massachusetts State Police executed a search warrant at 142 Pleasant St. Suite 104A, a space rented by Desmarais that houses his fishing lure business, Bustin’ Bass Baits, court documents show.
Inside, police said, authorities uncovered “component parts” and chemicals typically used in making explosive devices.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.