A Marine pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges that he illegally brought a non-lethal grenade, knife, and other military materials into John Wayne Airport, officials said.
Gregory Thomas Salyer, 23, of Kentucky, was arrested on Tuesday when he allegedly came through the Orange County airport carrrying the weapons in his bag and on his person.
The discovery prompted the evacuation of the baggage area while a Marine Corps chief warrant officer removed the grenade and fuses from the airport for disposal.
Salyer, who authorities said was headed home, allegedly checked baggage containing a non-lethal sting ball grenade, two military electric artillery time fuses (used on military artillery rounds), one military fuse assembly, and a butterfly knife, prosecutors said.
He is also accused of being in possession of over 300 steroid pills and over 10 Adderall pills.
A Transportation Security Administration agent noted several suspicious items during a routine screening of checked baggage inside a large green military duffel bag.
He faces charges including placing a destructive device in checked baggage, possession of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property, and carrying a switch-blade, prosecutors said.
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If convicted, he faces up to eight years in state prison. Salyer was jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail.
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