A Purdy man is being charged with a felony after allegedly putting a homemade bomb at the entrance gate to another individual’s property.

Benjamin Paine, 29, of Purdy, is charged with unlawful possession of an illegal weapon.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Doug Henry, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, on Feb. 2 at 4:45 p.m., deputies and the Purdy Fire Protection District were dispatched to a home on Farm Road 2095 southeast of Purdy regarding an outside fire.

The fire was reported to have started in a five-gallon bucket, which was set on top of a propane tank.

Once the fire was extinguished, it was determined the incendiary device was a homemade bomb.

The propane tank appeared to be equipped with a light switch hooked to a battery, and the device had wire fence clips, nuts, bolts, screws ceramic shards and other debris attached to it.

If such a device detonated, it could cause severe damage, serious physical harm or death. Henry noted the proximity to the roadway as a danger to any passersby.

A knife, presumably belonging to the suspect, was also recovered from the scene.

On Feb. 3, Henry conducted an interview with Paine after he was arrested by Barry County deputies for allegedly trespassing on the same property and in the area where the incendiary device was placed the day before.

Henry said during the interview, Paine allegedly did admit to being at the bucket that was on fire, and that the knife found at the scene was his.

He also allegedly spoke of a feud with the property owners.

Paine is being held in the Barry County jail on a cash-only bond of $50,000.

He had yet to be arraigned as of Monday morning.