STROUDSBURG — A Jackson Township man accused of manufacturing terrorist-grade explosives in his basement is scheduled to appear for formal arraignment later this month in the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas.

According to court records, 35-year-old James Andrew Niedosik faces seven charges including weapons of mass destruction and risking catastrophe after Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI discovered a clandestine laboratory containing TATP — a volatile explosive used in the Manchester Arena bombing, the Paris attacks, and other deadly terrorist incidents worldwide. His arraignment is set for December 22, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Jonathan Mark.

The September 24 Discovery

PSP troopers from the Fern Ridge barracks responded to Hazella Road in Jackson Township on September 24, 2025, after residents reported hearing loud explosions from a nearby property.

When confronted, Niedosik told officers he was igniting hydrogen balloons. But his mother informed troopers that her son “liked to play with explosives” and that there may be more inside the home, according to Monroe County District Attorney Mike Mancuso.

Upon initial search, troopers discovered explosive materials and halted the investigation until backup could arrive. The following morning, FBI agents and PSP bomb technicians took over and found what Mancuso described as a “clandestine laboratory in the basement” containing triacetone triperoxide (TATP) — an unstable homemade explosive classified as a weapon of mass destruction — along with ignition devices, firearms, and drugs.

The materials were so volatile that authorities conducted a controlled detonation on September 25 to safely dispose of them.

Neighbors told local media they had witnessed Niedosik’s erratic behavior for over a year, including walking the streets with a rifle and openly telling residents he was making explosives and testing them in the woods. They reported hearing blasts weekly, each one growing stronger than the last.

Charges and Court Status

The official Monroe County docket (CP-45-CR-0001892-2025) shows Niedosik was arrested September 25 and denied bail by Magisterial District Judge Daniel Kresge. He remains incarcerated at Monroe County Prison.

The charges filed against him include:

• Weapons of Mass Destruction — Unlawful Possession or Manufacture (18 § 2716, F2)
• Risking Catastrophe (18 § 3302, F3)
• Possession of Firearm Prohibited (18 § 6105, F2)
• Offensive Weapons (18 § 908, M1) — two counts
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person (18 § 2705, M2)
• Disorderly Conduct — Hazardous Physical Offense (18 § 5503, M3)

Niedosik also faces a separate drug case (CP-45-CR-0001891-2025) charging him with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Court records show Niedosik has prior Monroe County convictions including harassment (2014), drug paraphernalia (2019), and DUI involving controlled substances (2020). He was on active probation from the DUI case at the time of his arrest — a likely factor in the prohibited firearm charge.

Niedosik waived his preliminary hearing on November 5, and all charges have been bound over to Common Pleas Court. Private defense attorney Eugene M. Talerico Jr. of Old Forge has entered an appearance and filed motions for discovery and a bill of particulars. First Assistant District Attorney Michael T. Rakaczewski is prosecuting.

What is TATP?

TATP, known in counterterrorism circles as “Mother of Satan,” is a white crystalline explosive that can be made from common household chemicals including acetone and hydrogen peroxide. It is extremely unstable and can detonate from minor friction, temperature changes, or static electricity.

The explosive has been used in numerous high-profile terrorist attacks, including the 2005 London Underground bombings, the 2015 Paris attacks, the 2016 Brussels airport massacre, and the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people. Unlike conventional explosives, TATP contains no nitrogen, making it difficult to detect with standard security equipment.

Next Court Appearance

The formal arraignment on December 22 will be Niedosik’s first appearance in Common Pleas Court. At that hearing, the charges will be read and he will be asked to enter a plea. The court will also schedule subsequent pre-trial proceedings.

Niedosik remains held without bail at Monroe County Prison. The investigation is ongoing.

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