SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced today for placing pipe bombs near public places in Anaheim and possessing materials to construct additional pipe bombs. Donald Paul Busteed, 45, Anaheim, pleaded guilty today, April 15, 2016, to a court offer of three felony counts of possession of a destructive device in a public place, one felony count of explosion of a destructive device, and one felony count of intent to unlawfully make a destructive device. Over strong objections on the record by the People and Anaheim Police Department (APD), Busteed was sentenced to three years in jail.

On Nov. 13, 2015, Busteed placed a pipe bomb in Lowe's Home Improvement parking lot in Anaheim. A shopper in the parking lot saw the device and called 911. Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) bomb squad responded to the scene and dismantled the device.

On Dec. 11, 2015, Busteed attached a pipe bomb to a pole in an alleyway in Anaheim. A witness contacted APD and the device was dismantled by the OCSD bomb squad.

On March 27, 2016, Busteed detonated a pipe bomb in an alleyway near Anaheim Boulevard and Wilhelmina Street in Anaheim.

APD investigated this case and on March 28, 2016, searched the defendant's residence. Busteed possessed additional pipe bomb devices and various materials necessary to construct pipe bombs in his garage. He was subsequently arrested by APD.

On Dec. 31, 2015, Busteed detonated an explosive device at a business on East White Star Avenue. On Jan. 19, 2016, Busteed pleaded guilty to a court offer of one felony count of intent to unlawfully make a destructive device and one felony count of possession of a destructive device (Case # 16NF0037). The defendant was sentenced that day to 90 days in jail. Busteed was subsequently released from custody and violated the terms of his probation in this case.

“Busteed has demonstrated his propensity to commit these crimes and remains a serious threat to public safety,” said Sergeant Daron Wyatt. “We would have hoped for a more appropriate sentence given the defendant's continued conduct after accepting the Court's previous offer, which resulted in only 46 days in custody.”

Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 16NF0943 / April 15, 2016