Former firefighter, a convicted arsonist, arrested after explosives found by roadways

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - A joint law enforcement investigation into a series of improvised explosive devices found placed alongside roads and highways has led to the arrest of a 41-year-old Orangevale man.

On Friday, January 12, after an exhaustive investigation, a joint search warrant operation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office (EDSO). The search warrants were executed by EDSO and CHP Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams with assistance from the CHP Valley Division Special Services Unit and the FBI.

The explosive devices had been found on roads and highways in multiple locations in El Dorado County and Sacramento County.

Benjamin Cunha was arrested in connection with the investigation. He is a former firefighter who was sentenced for wildland fire arson a second time in 2016. Cunha, who lived in Placerville at the time, had previously admitted starting at least 30 fires from August 2005 through September 2007 in the El Dorado/Amador area. He had been a firefighter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Diamond Springs Fire Protection District.

On Friday, Cunha was arrested for 18740 PC (the unlawful explosion of a destructive device), 18715(A)(1) PC (maliciously or recklessly possessing an explosive device) and 18710(a) PC (Possession of a Destructive Device or Explosives).

Cunha was booked into the El Dorado County Jail and is being held on $2.1 million bail.

EDSO said, due to the active investigation, there is no further information available at this time.