Palm Springs, CA
A 20-year-old Marine stationed in Twentynine Palms is facing a felony charge for allegedly trying to bring live military ordnance onto a plane at Palm Springs International Airport, court papers show.
Steven Corey Vella was charged Thursday with one felony count of unlawfully possessing a destructive or explosive device in a prohibited area. Jail records do not indicate that Vella is in custody, and an arraignment date has not yet been scheduled.
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According to court documents, Vella was arrested at the airport on March 4 after he allegedly tried to board a flight from Palm Springs to New York with ground burst simulators, smoke grenades, a dummy hand grenade and an inert mortar body.
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The items, some of which are used to simulate explosions, were allegedly found in Vella’s luggage by Transportation Security Administration personnel.
He was initially given a misdemeanor citation and released, according to an arrest warrant declaration.
