Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty in Explosive Device and Weapons Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SALEM, Mass. – July 25, 2025 – In Superior Court in Salem today, David Farnsworth, 64, of Haverhill pled guilty to charges of possessing an explosive device and other weapons and ammunition, the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker states. In court today, Assistant District Attorney Maria Markos said that Farnsworth had built an incendiary device at his home on Rosebud Avenue that, if detonated, would have been capable of impacting anyone within a 300-meter radius.

On June 28, 2024, Haverhill Police responded to a call that Farnsworth had made statements about building a bomb to kill himself and others and that the bomb was ready to go off with minimal movement, Markos told the court. A search of the premises yielded the explosive device and related materials as well as what Markos called a “recipe” for a bomb. In addition to Haverhill Police, the response to the incident involved the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad. Nearby homes were evacuated during the response. After his arraignment in Haverhill District Court, Farnsworth was held on dangerousness.

In court today before the Hon. Thomas Drechsler, Farnsworth pled guilty to two counts of possessing an incendiary device, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing a large-capacity firearm, carrying a firearm without a firearm identification card, and possessing ammunition without a firearm identification card. One of the firearm-related offenses was related to Farnsworth being stopped in Wrentham on the day of this response, where he was found to be in possession of a firearm without a valid license.

Drechsler sentenced Farnsworth to 2 and ½ years to 2 and ½ years and one day in state prison followed by three years of probation, during which time he must undergo a mental health evaluation and treatment, and he may not possess firearms, incendiary devices, or components used in incendiary devices. Farnsworth was represented by attorney Carmine Lepore.

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