Federal prosecutors have charged a 45-year-old man with using a pipe bomb to explode a U.S. Postal Service mailbox in Arvada last week.

John Bowman, of Arvada, was arrested Friday and appeared in court Monday afternoon where he was ordered held pending a detention hearing later this week.

Bowman admitted to making the pipe bomb and exploding the mailbox, according to arrest documents filed in federal court. He allegedly told investigators he was trying to impress his girlfriend.

“She wanted to hear a ‘loud boom,'” the criminal complaint says.

Colorado’s U.S. Attorney’s Office said Bowman was linked to the explosion by surveillance video. He is accused of one count of trying to maliciously damage or destroy property used in interstate commerce.

If convicted, officials say Bowman could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“The residents of Arvada can rest assured that the person who allegedly placed the device is now in custody,” federal prosecutors said in a news release.

The postal service mailbox, near the intersection of 58th Avenue and Ralston Road, was destroyed early Thursday, Arvada police say.

Jill McGranahan, a police spokeswoman, said authorities received several 911 calls around 2:30 a.m. Thursday from residents in the area who heard a loud explosion. Responding officers found nothing and cleared the reports before the destroyed box was found about five hours later.

McGranahan said evidence found around the destroyed mailbox led authorities to believe the damage was caused by a pipe bomb.

The criminal complaint says black powder and pipe fragments were around the exploded mailbox.

Photos from the scene showed dozens of evidence markers spread out around the mangled remains of the mailbox.

Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul