FLEMINGTON, PA – According to a press release from the Pennsylvania State Police at Lamar, Troopers made a traffic stop on High Street in Flemington just after 2 a.m. Wednesday and found a vehicle filled with weapons and a suspected explosive device. The vehicle operator, James H. Schmidtberg, 35, from Lock Haven, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of illegal possession of firearms and possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

Schmidtberg was remanded to the Clinton County Correctional Facility awaiting a preliminary hearing on $250,000 bail.

State Police report said the incident began with a traffic stop over an improper display of a vehicle registration not issued to the driver’s 1989 Chevrolet RV. Schmidtberg exhibited signs of impairment and was arrested for DUI. He asked to get his cell phone from his vehicle, and troopers saw a rifle barrel and two shotgun shells near the driver’s seat.  State Police determined that as a convicted felon, Schmidtberg is prohibited from possessing firearms.

After obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, State Police also found three more rifles, a shotgun, a pistol with the serial number obliterated, plus a suspected explosive device. The Hazardous Device and Explosive Section of PSP then was contacted to safely retrieve the device for further investigation.  Police also seized two vials of methamphetamine, a scale and packaging material.

Schmidtberg was charged with a total of 10 crimes, including Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Please note that the above release is a statement on the status of an active criminal prosecution and in no way should be interpreted as a conclusion of guilt.  All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a Court of Law.