The guardrail (pictured) in Kula was reported to have significant damage from an IED explosion in Kula Aug. 7. Jess Lee was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the Kula bombingg and is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Federal Court Monday.

WAILUKU–The Maui Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of Jess Lee (43) of Kula on Thursday in connection with the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) discovered on Aug. 7, 2024, near Kaamana Street in Kula.

According to the MPD and Department of Justice (DOJ), the arrest is the result of a coordinated effort between the MPD and FBI.

“The Maui Police Department, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, continues to actively investigate last month’s incidents,” said Chief of Police John Pelletier. “This unified effort highlights our shared dedication to justice and maintaining the safety of our community.”

“The investigation remains ongoing, and specific details cannot be released at this time,” the MPD said in a press release announcing the arrest on Thursday. “Our primary objective is to ensure that all responsible parties are identified and held accountable. We appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation in refraining from speculation during this critical phase.”

On Aug. 7, 2024, around 4:45 p.m., Maui Police Department officers encountered multiple improvised explosive devices near Kaamana Street in Kula. The MPD determined that multiple IEDs had been detonated along the roadway at that location. There were several undetonated IEDs at the location as well (pictured).

United States District Attorney Clare E. Connors announced on Friday the charges Lee was arrested for on Sept. 18 for. Lee was charged with possessing explosives as a felon and damaging property by means of explosives.

Lee has a prior criminal record in Maui County dating back to 2000, according to court documents. Lee has been charged and convicted of assault and domestic abuse in Maui County several times. In October of 2018, Lee was charged and convicted of criminal property damage. Lee was sentenced to 10 days in jail after a no contest plea on Oct. 18, 2018. In March of this year, Lee was charged with driving without his license and insurance. That traffic case is still pending.

According to the DOJ, Lee is set for an initial appearance in federal court on Sept. 23, 2024.

According to the complaint and affidavit, on Aug. 7, 2024, the MPD officers encountered multiple IEDs near Kaamana Street in Kula. One of the IEDs, which had been exploded before MPD arrived, contained a mixture of compounds consistent with the remnants of explosive powder. Lee’s fingerprint was recovered from tape on that IED.

“FBI Laboratory analysis detected and identified one latent fingerprint matching known fingerprints for Jess Kiesel Lee, on the adhesive side of masking tape on one of the functioned IEDs recovered from the incident location. That particular IED had been located and seized approximately 15 to 25 feet from the damaged guardrail,” the criminal complaint against Lee alleges.

“That particular IED is believed to contain a mixture of strontium carbonate, aluminum, and a component consistent with potassium perchlorate,” according to preliminary analysis from FBI Laboratory.

If Lee is indicted and convicted of the charged offenses, he will face up to ten years in prison on the felon in possession of explosives charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years in prison, but no more than and up to 20 years in prison, on the property damage charge.

An FBI database search of Jess K. Lee resulted in the discovery of several prior criminal convictions under Hawaii state law. The search revealed prior felony convictions for assault and terroristic threatening. Database query results also revealed Lee’s registered address in Kula, Hawaii is approximately a five-to-ten-minute drive from the Incident Location.

According to the criminal complaint against Lee, investigators obtained information from an online retail company that sells pyrotechnic chemicals and supplies on Aug. 28, concerning Lee. According to that company, Lee maintained an account with them. The account information included an email mailing address associated with Lee along with his registered address in Kula.

The charges and information contained in the federal complaint are accusations, and Lee is presumed innocent unless and until indicted and proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Lee is not charged for the IED located near Lono Avenue in Kahului on July 23, 2024, or the explosion damaging a car in Pukalani on August 8, 2024, both mentioned in the complaint filed on August 13, 2024, charging Robert Dumuran for the IED located on July 23, 2024.

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation and MPD conducted the investigation resulting in the complaint and arrest, and the investigation into this matter remains ongoing. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan D. Slack and Wayne A. Myers,” The DOJ press release announcing the arrest reads.