BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- A federal judge in Birmingham today ruled a 19-year-old Homewood man charged with possessing a destructive device after police found four explosive devices in his basement room is to be released but remain under home detention and under strict conditions.



Solomon O'Connor Flowers must remain under electronic monitoring, one parent must be with him 24 hours a day, he must live in the upstairs section of the house with his parents, and all weapons or explosive-making material must be removed from the house, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Armstrong ruled.



Flowers also has to post a $70,000 bond and federal probation officers must be allowed to enter the home at any time, the judge ruled.



Armstrong's ruling today came after a more than two-hour hearing at the Hugo L. Black U.S. Courthouse.



Assistant U.S. Attorney Enid Athanas argued Flowers was a danger to himself and to others. Flowers' attorney, John Lentine, said there was "no shred of evidence" that Flowers had intended to hurt anyone with the devices.



Lentine said that no objects, such as nails, were found with the devices that could be used as projectiles to hurt people.



There were no writings or plans found that indicated Flowers was targeting anyone and no one has stepped forward yet to say they have ever been threatened by him, Keith E. Jordan, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives testified. Flowers' computer, which was confiscated by authorities, has not been searched, the agent testified.



Police and agents have said that they don't believe the explosives are connected with any terrorist act.



Flowers was arrested after Homewood police came to the home in the early morning hours of July 3. One of Flowers' parents called 911 because he was concerned about his son's well being, according to an affidavit filed in federal court by Jordan. Police found four explosive devices in Flowers' room.



Multiple items consistent with the construction of destructive devices were removed from the home, including smokeless powder, suspected flash powder, improvised ignition systems, pyrotechnic fuse, and fireworks, according to Jordan's affidavit.



Flowers had made bonds totaling $100,600 and was released Friday from the Jefferson County Jail, where he was being held on state charges of five counts of possessing a destructive device, one count of unlawful possession of marijuana and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.



But upon his release from county jail, Flowers was immediately arrested on the federal charge. At an appearance Friday in federal court, Armstrong denied bond for

Flowers until the detention hearing could be held today, according to court records.



