Movie theater bottle bomb suspect faces felony charges

WASHINGTON — Manuel Joyner is being held at the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections without bond, State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks announced Monday.

Joyner was arrested over the weekend and charged with one count of detonation of a destructive device in relation to bottle bomb incidents a bottle bomb explosion at the Magic Johnson Theater in Largo.

Joyner’s bail was originally $50 million; on Monday, officials decided to eliminate his bond at a review hearing in Upper Marlboro.

If convicted of the charge, Joyner faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. His preliminary hearing has been set for June 26.

A multi-agency investigation led to the May 31 arrest of Joyner, 20, a Bowie, Maryland resident, says Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Spokesman Mark Brady.

Brady says Joyner is believed to be the person responsible for all of the area bottle bombs in Fairfax County, Alexandria, Anne Arundel County and Prince George’s County.

Prince George’s County Fire Marshal’s Office charged Joyner with the manufacture, possession and the detonation of a destructive device or IED in connection with an incident occurring in Prince George’s County at the AMC Magic Johnson Movie Theater in the early morning of May 24.

On June 1, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department investigators charged Joyner with three felonies: creating, possessing, or using a bomb/explosive; arson of an occupied public building and using or selling weapons/devices for a terrorist act.

Additional charges in other jurisdictions may be forthcoming.

Movie theater patrons around the region could breathe a sigh of relief after Joyner’s arrest, according to a statement for Prince George’s County Fire and EMS.

Shortly after the arrest, investigators executed a search warrant at a home in the 600 block of Stillwater Place in Bowie. Court documents show Joyner faced destruction of property and theft charges back in 2011.

Also that year, a peace order was issued against Joyner — which, in part, meant he had to stay away from school. During that time, he was charged with theft less than $100. In February 2013, Joyner was charged with failing to comply with the peace order.

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