Kevin Robinson

krobinson4@pnj.com

Update, 2:15 a.m.: A federal jury found Vaughn Pottle not guilty on three criminal counts regarded to the possession of stolen military explosives.

Previous story

A federal jury is deliberating the fate of a former Army special forces member accused of storing two boxes of stolen explosives in his home.

Vaughn Nicholas Pottle, 31, reportedly obtained TNT, dynamite, flashbang grenades, blast caps and other explosive materials in 2011 while serving in the Army 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C., according to his testimony during his three-day trial in Pensacola this week.

When his unit was relocated to Eglin Air Force base, Pottle reportedly brought the explosives with him and stored them in his home in Baker.

Pottle testified that his superior officer, Master Sgt. Marc Castleberry, had instructed him to transport the munitions to Florida, and that he was told that the explosives would be used for training purposes within his unit.

Castleberry denied the allegations, as did several other members of the special forces team.

Edwin Knight

The explosives were located while Pottle was being investigated for separate charges, including domestic violence and carrying a concealed firearm, in December 2013.

Pottle is facing three charges: Knowingly possessing a grenade that was not registered to him, possession of stolen explosive materials, and possession of explosives after being charged with a felony offense.

Pottle's jury entered deliberations at around 10:30 a.m. and is expected to return a verdict sometime this afternoon.