Promising Annapolis Marine Tech Charged With Bomb-Making – Loose Cannon
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An Annapolis area marine technician has been arrested in connection with 32 bombs found during a search of his home. Lee Scott Wygal Ralston, 37, was charged with 32 counts each of manufacture and possession of a “destructive device.” He faces up to 25 years in prison. Ralston founded Ralston Marine in February 2025, after getting into the marine industry as a tech at Port Annapolis Marina in 2019. His website advertised him as a “mobile marine service provider,” capable of “electronics installation, fiberglass repairs, bottom painting, custom fabrication and dive services.” Maryland authorities began their case against Ralston with an investigation into allegations of illegal night hunting—deer jacking—that included a home being hit by gunfire. Apparently, Natural Resource officers were conducting a search of Ralston’s home, probably for frozen venison, when the bombs were discovered. According to news reports, they called in Anne Arundel County’s Fire Department explosives unit. Maryland media outlets reported that some of the bombs were rigged to be detonated remotely. On April 14, the same day the search was excuted, Ralston’s wife Chelsea filed for divorce. Ralston grew up in Salisbury, Maryland, and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland. For four years, he worked for a pair of engineering firms before being trained and hired at Port Annapolis. “I wanted to have a job where I loved what I was doing, and sitting in an office all day wasn’t it,” he was quoted as saying by PropTalk magazine in December 2019. “The days go by quickly,” he said. “It’s nice to be granted some autonomy and be treated with some trust in your work—not every place is like that. Plus, I get to be outside, and you can’t beat the water view!” Also from PropTalk: Rich Krolak, service manager at Port Annapolis, predicted that Ralson would go far in the industry. LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Sometimes he tries to be funny. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid. |
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