Former PG County sheriff’s deputy charged in connection with Annapolis homemade explosives case

A former lieutenant in the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office was charged in connection with the case of an Annapolis man accused of making homemade explosive devices.

Micah Sam, of Brandywine, was charged with possession of explosive material with intent to create a destructive device and conspiring to create an explosive device, according to online court records.

Sam was arrested Wednesday and was ordered held without bond Thursday, according to online court records. He is being represented by the Office of the Public Defender, which did not immediately be reached for comment.

An investigator from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department Office of the Fire Marshal wrote in charging documents that Sam provided explosive material to Lee Ralston, of Annapolis, for the purpose of creating “destructive” devices.

Investigators said they learned through that Ralston got explosive material from a law enforcement source who was a customer of his at a marina. They said that Ralston texted his mother and his now ex-girlfriend about the source of the explosive material and noted to his mother that the officer was with the ”Prince Georges County Sheriffs Department.”

Sam resigned from his position in the department earlier this year after an internal investigation related to timekeeping, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. He was not employed there at the time of his arrest.

“Law enforcement officers hold a position of public trust, and any deputy or officer, current or former, who breaks the law should be held fully accountable,” the statement said.

Sam was a K-9 handler for the department, Anne Arundel County officials said. In charging documents, investigators said he “had a unique skillset and knowledge-base within the field of explosives that specifically contributed to” the construction of the alleged explosive devices.

Investigators allege they found a message thread on Ralston’s phone between him and Sam, in which the two speak “specifically about boating and explosives” between March and July of last year. Police wrote that on March 23, 2025, Sam said he had “what we talked about on my boat.”

On May 17, the charging document said, Ralston asked if he needed to bring anything to “transfer” the explosive material.

“I mean I don’t think so. It’s super stable but you tell me,” Ralston wrote, according to the charging documents. Investigators said the two met that day.

The message thread between Ralston and Sam includes multiple references to “complex ingredients” that are used for making bombs.

“Ralston mentions oxidizers, ammonia nitrate, black powder, potassium perchlorate, and inquires about measurements. Furthermore, he specifically tells Mr. Sam that he is making the devices in CO2 canisters,” the charging documents said.

Investigators also allege that Sam gave Ralston safety tips and “advice on strengthening the impact.”

In the text messages, Ralston allegedly acknowledged to Sam that having the explosive devices was a felony, according to the charging documents.

An attorney representing Ralston described the devices as carbon dioxide canisters and “an amusement thing” at Ralston’s bail review hearing in April this year. He was charged with making and possessing 32 homemade explosive devices.

During his bail hearing, Ralston’s attorney said there was “zero evidence” that he intended to use the devices to hurt anybody.

Ben Parker, an investigator with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, told the judge during the bail review that the devices would kill a person if they were placed in their mouth or near their heart.

Ralston was initially ordered held without bond but was released May 14. He has a jury trial scheduled for Oct. 15, according to online court records. His attorney declined to comment.

This story may be updated. The Banner’s Mitch Ryals contributed to this report.

This story was updated to correctly reflect Lee Ralston's bail status and the agency that investigated Micah Sam.