Upton Man Sentenced to 30 Months’ Imprisonment for Planting a Destructive Device

U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson recently sentenced 40-year-old David Riggle of Upton man to 30 months’ imprisonment with two years of supervised release for possessing a destructive device. The court also imposed a $300 fine. Riggle was arrested on April 28, 2025, for planting a destructive device inside a storage trailer on a drilling company’s property in Weston County.

The device was discovered on November 30, 2024, after a worker noticed the smell of propane emanating from the trailer. Inside, authorities found a battery-powered device with wires, a timer, and a fuse placed next to an open 100-pound propane tank, releasing gas. Investigators believe the timer was intended to delay ignition so the suspect could escape. The device ultimately failed to ignite but law enforcement said it was otherwise capable of causing serious harm.

Footprints at the scene led investigators in the direction of Riggle’s home approximately two-thirds of a mile away. A federal search warrant executed at Riggle’s home on December 11, 2024, uncovered footprints matching those at the scene, along with a 6-volt battery matching the battery connected to the device, safety fuse, wires, and soldering tools consistent with components used in the device. Riggle waived indictment and pleaded guilty on November 12, 2025. The Weston County Sheriff’s Office, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms and Explosives investigated the crime.