Niedosik arraigned December 22 on seven counts including weapons of mass destruction and risking catastrophe; court records show decade of Monroe County convictions and active probation violation

STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY — The Jackson Township man accused of manufacturing terrorist-grade explosives in his basement has been formally arraigned in Monroe County Court of Common Pleas, where he remains jailed without bail ahead of a spring court date that could determine whether he faces up to 20 years in state prison.

James Andrew Niedosik, 35, appeared before Judge Jonathan Mark on Monday, December 22, 2025, for formal arraignment on seven felony and misdemeanor counts stemming from a September incident that brought FBI bomb technicians to a quiet Hazella Road neighborhood for a controlled detonation of volatile materials.

Judge Janet Jackson has been assigned to preside over the case. A call for guilty plea or ARD hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.

Court records reveal Niedosik was already on active probation from a 2020 DUI conviction when police discovered the explosives lab — and has faced criminal charges in Monroe County dating back more than a decade.

The September Discovery

PSP Fern Ridge troopers responded to Hazella Road in Jackson Township on September 24 after neighbors reported loud explosions. They found Niedosik near the woodline and arrested him on an outstanding warrant. He claimed he was igniting hydrogen balloons. His mother contradicted him — her son liked to play with explosives and kept them in the house. What troopers found in the basement stopped the search cold: a laboratory with unstable chemicals used to make TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, a compound counterterrorism experts call “Mother of Satan.” The same explosive killed 22 people at the Manchester Arena in 2017 and was used in the 2005 London Underground and 2015 Paris attacks. The FBI and PSP Hazardous Device and Explosives Section conducted a controlled detonation on September 25.

Neighbors told WFMZ the blasts were nothing new — weekly explosions for over a year, each one louder than the last. Some watched Niedosik walk the streets with a rifle, bragging openly about making explosives.

Pattern of Criminal Activity

Court records reveal Niedosik has faced charges in Monroe County since 2014.

February 21, 2014 — Jackson Township: PSP Fern Ridge Trooper Leo E. Nita Jr. arrested Niedosik for harassment. He pleaded guilty before Judge Jonathan Mark and was sentenced to 45-90 days in Monroe County Prison.

October 14, 2018 — Stroudsburg Borough: Stroud Area Regional Police Officer Michael Chica arrested Niedosik for drug paraphernalia possession. He pleaded guilty before Senior Judge Margherita P. Worthington and was sentenced to one year probation. That probation was later revoked, and he was resentenced to 30 days to one year incarceration followed by additional probation.

April 16, 2019 — Delaware Water Gap Borough: PSP Stroudsburg Trooper Justin J. Siekierka charged Niedosik with DUI involving controlled substances. He pleaded guilty before Judge Stephen M. Higgins and was sentenced to 73 days to 6 months incarceration followed by 54 months probation. He was on active supervision from this case when arrested in September 2025.

August 6, 2025 — Pocono Township: Pocono Township Police Officer Marc J. Iannazzo charged Niedosik with carrying a firearm without a license and drug possession.

September 24, 2025 — Jackson Township: PSP Fern Ridge Trooper Gabrielle Van Wie arrested Niedosik on the weapons of mass destruction and related charges.

Probation Revoked

Following his September arrest, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office filed a petition for violation of probation in the 2019 DUI case. On Thursday, October 2, 2025, Niedosik appeared before Judge Stephen Higgins for a probation violation hearing. Judge Higgins granted the petition and ordered an evaluation.

On Monday, October 6, 2025, Judge Higgins resentenced Niedosik on the probation violation. The prohibited firearm charge in the current explosives case stems directly from his prior conviction record, which bars him from lawfully possessing firearms under Pennsylvania law.

The Charges

Niedosik faces seven counts in the primary explosives case (CP-45-CR-0001892-2025):

• Weapons of Mass Destruction — Unlawful Possession or Manufacture (18 Pa.C.S. § 2716(a)): F2 — up to 20 years
• Risking Catastrophe (18 Pa.C.S. § 3302(b)): F3 — up to 7 years
• Possession of Firearm Prohibited (18 Pa.C.S. § 6105(a)(1)): F2 — up to 10 years
• Make, Repair, Sell Offensive Weapons (18 Pa.C.S. § 908(a)): M1 — up to 5 years (two counts)
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person (18 Pa.C.S. § 2705): M2 — up to 2 years
• Disorderly Conduct — Hazardous Physical Offense (18 Pa.C.S. § 5503(a)(4)): M3 — up to 1 year

He also faces charges in two related cases:

CP-45-CR-0001891-2025 (Drug Case):

• Intentional Possession of Controlled Substance (35 Pa.C.S. § 780-113(a)(16)): M
• Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (35 Pa.C.S. § 780-113(a)(32)): M

CP-45-CR-0002081-2025 (Firearms/Drug Case — Pocono Township):

• Firearms Not to Be Carried Without License (18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(a)(1)): F3
• Intentional Possession of Controlled Substance (35 Pa.C.S. § 780-113(a)(16)): M
• Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (35 Pa.C.S. § 780-113(a)(32)): M

The Monroe County District Attorney’s Office filed a notice pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 582(B)(1) to consolidate all three cases for trial.

DEFENDANT INFORMATION:

• Name: James Andrew Niedosik (also known as James A. Niedosik, James Niedosik)
• DOB: July 19, 1990 (Age 35)
• Sex: Male
• Race: White
• Last Known Address: Stroudsburg, PA 18360

CASE INFORMATION (Primary Case):

• Docket: CP-45-CR-0001892-2025
• OTN: Y 1015114-2
• Incident: PA 2025-1188642
• Court: Monroe County Court of Common Pleas
• Assigned Judge: Janet Jackson
• Status: Active — Awaiting Call/Guilty Plea/ARD

RELATED CASES:

• CP-45-CR-0001891-2025 — Monroe County — Drug Possession — Active — Consolidated for Trial
• CP-45-CR-0002081-2025 — Monroe County — Firearms/Drugs (Pocono Township) — Active — Consolidated for Trial
• CP-45-CR-0003140-2019 — Monroe County — DUI Controlled Substance — Probation Violation Granted 10/06/2025
• CP-45-CR-0000089-2019 — Monroe County — Drug Paraphernalia — Closed — Guilty Plea 02/28/2019
• CP-45-CR-0000451-2014 — Monroe County — Harassment — Closed — Guilty Plea 04/16/2014

TIMELINE:

• February 21, 2014: Arrested for harassment in Jackson Township
• September 29, 2014: Sentenced to 45-90 days for harassment
• October 14, 2018: Arrested for drug paraphernalia in Stroudsburg Borough
• February 28, 2019: Pleaded guilty to drug paraphernalia; sentenced to probation
• April 16, 2019: Charged with DUI in Delaware Water Gap Borough
• October 21, 2020: Sentenced on DUI to 73 days-6 months incarceration plus 54 months probation
• August 6, 2025: Charged with firearms and drugs in Pocono Township
• September 24, 2025: Arrested on weapons of mass destruction charges in Jackson Township; bail denied
• September 25, 2025: FBI conducts controlled detonation of explosives
• October 2, 2025: Probation violation hearing before Judge Higgins
• October 6, 2025: Resentenced on probation violation
• November 5, 2025: Waived preliminary hearing; charges bound to Common Pleas
• December 22, 2025: Formal arraignment before Judge Mark; case assigned to Judge Jackson
• April 17, 2026, 12:30 p.m.: Call for guilty plea/ARD scheduled

BAIL: Denied — “Extensive fail to appear history” and “extreme concern for public safety”

CONFINEMENT: Monroe County Prison (since September 24, 2025) — Bail denied

ATTORNEYS:

• Prosecution: First Assistant District Attorney Michael T. Rakaczewski, Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, 701 Main Street, Suite 200, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 — 570-517-3052
• Defense: Eugene M. Talerico Jr., Esq. (Private), Law Office of Gene Talerico Esq LLC, 450 Center Street, Old Forge, PA 18518 — 570-466-3783

ARRESTING AGENCIES:

• Pennsylvania State Police — Fern Ridge (primary investigation, Trooper Gabrielle Van Wie)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (explosives disposal, bomb technicians)
• Pocono Township Police Department (August firearms case, Officer Marc J. Iannazzo)

LOCATIONS:

• Explosives Lab: Hazella Road, Jackson Township, Monroe County
• Controlled Detonation: Hazella Road area, Jackson Township
• August Incident: Pocono Township, Monroe County

Niedosik is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.