Chester Co. No Kings Protester Who Had Pipe Bombs Pleads Guilty: Feds

WEST CHESTER, PA — The heavily armed man at a "No Kings" protest in West Chester who also had several explosives in his home has pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple counts, officials said Thursday.

Kevin Krebs, 32, of Malvern, pleaded guilty Thursday to possession of an unregistered firearm or destructive device.

His home was searched after his arrest, and the discovery of the bombs led to concerns there may have been plans for larger scale violence, officials said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said that the bombs had nails contained inside them, consistent with shrapnel devices.

Sentencing for Krebs is set for March 31. He faces up to 10 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.

The incident took place on Monday, June 21 during the protest on N. High Street in West Chester.

Other protesters reported Krebs to police when they noticed his weapons. Officers stopped searched Krebs, discovering the handgun, a bayonet, pepper spray, assault rifle cartridges, and more on his person, police said.

Shortly thereafter, they searched his home on 100 block of Conestoga Road in Malvern, which he shared with his parents and brother, and found 13 improvised explosive devices, according to the district attorney's office.

Investigators said they also found several more firearms (bringing the total to 21), a homemade silencer, a 3D printer, and two 3D-printed "switches" which convert guns into fully automatic firearms.

It's not clear exactly what his plan was, or if he had one.

"We have not located any sort of manifesto or prewritten plan," Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said at the time.

Krebs is also facing separate charges on the local level for bringing weapons to the political rally.