3 More Arrested in Connection With Blast, Cache of Explosives

YUBA CITY, Calif. — Authorities arrested three more men Thursday in connection with the discovery of a 500-pound cache of explosives Wednesday and an explosion over the weekend.

The latest arrests brought the total in custody to six. One of the men, William Goehler, 34, is a supporter of anti-government militia groups, and the other five are acquaintances of Goehler, Yuba County Undersheriff Gary Finch said.

But Finch said it was not known whether the six men belonged to a militia group or if any of them except Goehler were associated with any militias. All six remained in custody late Thursday on explosives charges.

Finch said the explosives, known as petrogel, were stolen from a mining company in Montana, but he declined to name the company or give its location. The explosives were manufactured this year, he said, adding that he did not know when they were stolen.

“One of their bunkers had been entered and explosives removed. We don’t know how much . . . and we don’t know if what was recovered yesterday was the total amount. We’re still investigating,” Finch said.

Goehler was arrested after explosives stored in a tree outside his home detonated Sunday in Olivehurst, a few miles southeast of Yuba City and 40 miles north of Sacramento, ripping through his house and breaking windows two blocks away.

Goehler was treated for a neck injury and his 2-year-old daughter suffered a head cut in the explosion. He was arrested on charges of using a destructive device, child cruelty and possessing a destructive device causing mayhem or bodily injury.