Man Sentenced For Explosion That Rocked Levittown

The explosion in Thomas Piscione‘s Levittown home last year could have killed him. Luckily for him it didn’t, but the criminal charges that stemmed from it have cost him his job, his  home, his savings and his standing the community.

The 31-year-old former Amtrak employee was sentenced Tuesday in Doylestown for risking a catastrophe, which he pleaded guilty to earlier this year. Judge Wallace Bateman sentenced Piscione to seven to 23 month prison sentence with credit for time served. The roughly seven months spent in prison allowed the 31 year old to walk out of the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown following an meeting with a probation officer.

Piscione, according to authorities, escaped serious injury when between a half-pound and pound of “exploding targets” blew up in the fireplace of the former federal worker’s Midwood Lane home in Bristol Township last May. The early morning blast lifted the roof from the frame of the house, blew out windows, knocked books of off shelving, popped nails and blew bricks out of the fireplace, leaving the living room filled with damage, according to authorities.

Piscione‘s attorney said his client’s home suffered more than $10,000 in damage and is facing foreclosure.

“I’ve lost everything,” Piscione said in court.

When firefighters and police first arrived, Piscione told them a propane tank exploded, but no evidence propane tank explosion was located, according to police.

On Tuesday, Piscione said there were “no excuses” for what happened. He thanked his supporters and apologized to the community for any worry he caused.

Thomas Kenny, Piscione’s attorney, admitted Piscione had a problem with alcohol and was intoxicated leading up to the explosion.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Rees said alcohol and mental health treatment for Piscione were advised.

Bateman agreed with the prosecutor.

Before levying the sentence, Bateman asked Piscione what exactly happened.

Piscione explained that he purchased packages of “explosive targets,” often used for target practice, and mistakenly threw one in the fireplace when he was preparing to burn old mail, newspapers and bills.

The judge said he accepted what Piscione said and noted it would factor into the sentencing.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Derek Valgora testified Tuesday that the explosion “caused significant damage.” He also said the targets were not used properly and placed near a heat source, causing the explosion.

Following the explosion, police noted Piscione  had “singed hair and black soot all over his face.” However, he escaped majority injury despite admitting to a reporter on Tuesday that he was only a few feet from the origin of the blast.

It wasn’t addressed in court on Tuesday, but police said last year that precursor chemicals for making explosives were found in a bedroom.

Piscione said during interviews with investigators that he was  interested in chemicals and that it was a “hobby” for him.

“I knew they were dangerous,” Piscione said before Bateman. “I should have been much more careful with [the explosive targets.]”

Piscione‘s mother spoke in support of her son. Several others, including a retired New Jersey police officer, showed their backing of the 31 year old. Bateman noted he received several letters that spoke Piscione’s character.

While several concerning items were found in the home following the blast, Piscione did not appear to have any intent to use the bombs to harm anyone, Rees said. Piscione and his attorney told the judge the items were intended for use by the outdoorsman.

Piscione is also required to serve community service, which is something he responded he has already begun doing.