The attorney representing Kyle Kuczynski, 32, in the Mahanoy City church chapel bombing case argued this week that the Commonwealth has no forensic evidence that his client was the one who set off an explosive device last month.
Dennis Charles, of Allentown, said at his client’s preliminary hearing before District Magistrate Judge Anthony Kilker on Thursday, that the evidence against Kuczynski is purely circumstantial.
Prosecutor Karen Byrnes-Noon, of the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office, countered Charles’ argument by saying, “I would love to have DNA forensic evidence but it blew up.”
Kuczynski is accused of setting off an explosive device inside the adoration chapel at Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Mahanoy City on the night of May 6. The explosion damaged the altar and several stained glass windows inside. No injuries were reported and Kuczynski was arrested a short time after the explosion.
Kilker ruled that all charges against Kuczynski be held for Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas. He said, “I get to look at circumstantial evidence and the totality of the circumstantial evidence,” in denying motions to have charges either dismissed or downgraded.
Commonwealth v. Kyle Kuczynski: Preliminary Hearing
At Thursday’s preliminary hearing, Fr. Kevin Gallagher and Mahanoy City Police officer Derek Weicikosky testified for the Commonwealth.
Weicikosky presented some of the evidence that Charles said was circumstantial, including screen shots of surveillance videos showing Kuczynski inside the chapel on the day prior to the bombing.
A video that purportedly shows Kuczynski clearly looking at a surveillance camera inside the chapel and running away from the explosive device about 10 seconds before it detonates does exist and has been submitted for discovery, Weicikosky testified, but it was not presented at Thursday’s hearing.
Those videos and stills also purportedly show a distinctly-colored skateboard, which police say Kuczynski later possessed when he was arrested.
Charles objected to the video and photographic evidence presented at Thursday’s hearing.
He said, “This violates the best evidence rule. You can’t identify Mr. Kuczynski based on the photographs presented today.”
Kilker denied his objection.
Charles also argued that police collected no forensic evidence from the scene or his client during their investigation. He said they have nothing to connect his client to the explosive device.
During his closing argument, Charles said, “You have somebody who went to the altar. You don’t have anything to show it was Mr. Kuczynski. There’s no connection scientifically that it’s him, no admission from my client that it’s him. They’re asking you to assume he did it.”
He also argued that police and the Commonwealth aren’t sure what type of explosive device was used.
“Is this a firecracker,” he asked. “This could be something you could buy at Phantom Fireworks.”
During his testimony on Thursday, Gallagher said surveillance video footage shows Kuczynksi inside the chapel twice prior to setting off the explosive device.
On one occasion the day prior to the explosion, Kuczynski allegedly puts his hands on a monstrance inside the chapel, which tripped an alarm. Gallagher said when he does that, he looks at a camera inside and smiles. He then left on that distinctly colored skateboard.
Also, in the times before the alleged detonation, Kuczynski frightened two sisters inside with his actions, Gallagher said.
“The first time, he scared the one nun really bad,” he said.
Gallagher also presented an estimate for the damage caused inside the chapel as a result of the explosion at $27,000.
Charles objected to the estimate, saying that it was from a third party, who wasn’t presented during the hearing. Saying it’s more than $5,000 in damage elevates the alleged crime to a felony.
“Fr. Gallagher submitted a third-party evaluation. You have to have someone who values stained glass,” Charles said. “This is definitely not a felony category.”
Again, Kilker denied Charles’ objection.
Charges of felony arson, reckless burning or exploding, possession of explosives, risking catastrophe, institutional vandalism, criminal mischief, and ethnic intimidation were all held for County court. Kuczynski is being held without bail at Schuylkill County Prison.
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Fedupconseravtive
June 26, 2025 at 1:45 pm
This guy looks evil in his mugshot. Wouldn’t the world be a better place without lawyers