A Denville man accused of building a homemade explosives laboratory on his property will remain in custody until his trial, after a Morris County judge concluded that the materials recovered from his home posed grave risks to the surrounding community.
Joseph Rizos, 37, was ordered held following a roughly two-hour pretrial detention hearing on Tuesday, July 7, in Superior Court in Morristown. He was arrested on June 24 and faces a range of charges, including second-degree recklessly risking widespread injury or damage, two counts of unlawful possession of assault firearms, four counts of possession of destructive devices, and one count of fourth-degree unlawful possession of large-capacity magazines.
According to investigators, the case grew out of a months-long investigation that began after Rizos allegedly published posts on a public online forum detailing how to manufacture ammunition and explosives. Authorities reviewed his Amazon, PayPal, and Bank of America records before securing search warrants for his home.
Inside the residence, officers reported finding recipes for explosives, detonators, blasting caps, fuses, and remote-control receivers, along with large quantities of hazardous chemicals capable of producing homemade explosives. They also documented tactical vests, flash bangs, roughly 17 firearms, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and large-capacity magazines.
In a backyard shed, investigators say they recovered a box holding 109 vials of explosive material, a discovery that prompted the evacuation of nearby homes. Prosecutors argued that some of the compounds, particularly picric acid, were highly volatile and could have detonated from heat, friction, or impact. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office estimated that hazardous waste disposal alone is expected to cost about $30,000.
Prosecutors contended that the combination of homemade explosives, hazardous chemicals, firearms, and tactical gear made Rizos a danger to the community, and pointed to the potential sentence he faces under New Jersey’s Graves Act as evidence that he posed a flight risk.
Rizos’ defense attorney, Brian Neary, pushed back on that portrayal. He described his client as a lifelong Morris County resident with no criminal history, no record of missing court dates, and the lowest possible Public Safety Assessment score. Neary noted letters submitted on Rizos’ behalf, including one from his employer, Catbridge Machinery, where Rizos works as a process engineer, as well as letters from family members and neighbors. He also highlighted Rizos’ role as a caregiver for his ailing father.
Neary further challenged the prosecution’s description of the evidence, arguing that many of the chemicals had legitimate uses. He contended that items described as blasting caps were actually thermocouple probes used to monitor compost in a family garden, and that the vials recovered from the shed contained water and could not have detonated as prosecutors described.
Photo: Sophia Ricciardelli
Charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
