CHESAPEAKE, Va. - A Chesapeake man arrested and charged after the FBI issued a search warrant and found explosives and child pornography in his home has entered a guilty plea in court.
According to a federal investigation's search warrant information, 48-year-old Kim Joseph Habit of Chesapeake has been charged with knowingly shipping, transporting, and receiving any explosive without having a license or permit and possessing child pornography.
Andrew Palomares, who lives across the street on Sparrow Road, saw the raid unfold.
“There was a bunch of police and FBI and bomb squad and all this stuff across the street; I was like, ‘What the crap?’ said Palomares.
He said agents were at the home last month and spent the entire day there through the following morning.
“When I got home, of course the FBI and stuff was all out here,” Palomares said. “They didn't really tell us much until the next day once they started wrapping up their investigation. I found out from talking to one of the (FBI) guys that he had some stuff that he shouldn't have in his possession, and they have been watching him for quite a while from what they told me.”
According to the investigation, Habit purchased significant quantities of chemicals, lab equipment and other components, which could be used to create a destructive device or are consistent with items used in the manufacturing of improvised explosives.
“He had some a booby traps and stuff, and they took three safes out of the house from what I could tell,” said Palomares.
Palomares told News 3 he was a little shocked by the FBI raid. He said he only had a few interactions with Habit and that he mostly kept to himself.
“He didn't seem like he was a threat, really, to me, but I don't know him,” he said. “I mean, you don't know who your neighbors are sometimes.”
The investigation also revealed that an internet user at Habit's home was making child pornography available for others to download.
Court documents reveal Habit lives with his 73-year-old mother.
On December 9, 2021, the FBI obtained a search warrant to search his home. On December 14, 2021, they executed the search warrant and found several things.
According to court documents, the FBI found one box that contained a grenade fuzzing mechanism, large amounts of primers, empty rifle cases and handwritten notes on how to assemble the device.
Another box found also contained items that the FBI says could create an explosive. Numerous firearms, chemicals and one gas grenade were found during the search warrant.
Officials also learned that Habit used a storage facility in Chesapeake where they found two spools of military-grade detonating cord, which they say tested positive for an explosive, a homemade explosive, and tablets used to create explosives.
Officials say Habit has not applied or received a license or permit to receive or transport explosives.
During the search warrant, officials also found that a user at Habit's home shared videos of child pornography.
“I didn't know that,” Palomares said. “He's a little sketchy every once in a while. He seemed a little strung out - not strung out, but on edge. Kind of nervous-acting sometimes.”
Habit appeared in court Thursday, where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He’s currently being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail since his arrest on Jan. 3.
Habit’s public defender did not want to comment.
News 3 also reached out to the federal prosecutor handling the case and did not hear back.
On March 30, Habit pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 17.
To read the full affidavit, click here. (Disclaimer: The details in this document are extremely graphic and may be disturbing to some.)
