AUSTIN, Texas — An Austin man will spend the next 15 years in prison after being convicted of a felony in Williamson County
On Sept. 13, 61-year-old Michael Sean Myers pleaded guilty to a felony charge of arson causing bodily injury before his trial was set to begin. He was set to go on trial after being accused of arming three pipe bombs in Williamson County in 2022, one of which exploded, causing severe injuries.
The arson was motivated by Myers' displeasure with a woman his son had been dating. Myers believed that the woman and her family were "stealing his son away from him." The family began to notice strange occurrences in late 2021, such as locks being superglued, lawn equipment being sabotaged and a vehicle being sabotaged.
In January 2022, a pipe bomb Myers had set in a vehicle exploded while it was traveling on FM 972 in Williamson County. The explosion caused severe injuries to the hand of a male victim. A month later, the victim's son noticed a pipe bomb with a partially burned fuse lying in his backyard at his home in Georgetown.
In late 2022, officers discovered a third pipe bomb created by Myers, along with makeshift grenades he had made at his house. Law enforcement agencies were also able to identify Myers as the person responsible for setting the pipe bomb that exploded in the vehicle.
Myers pleaded guilty after meeting with attorneys, accepting the 15-year sentence.
“Arson and explosive cases are legally very difficult cases to prove," Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick said. "I want to thank our prosecutors Eddie Wilkinson and Jason Jorgens for their determination and hard work in putting this case together along with our law enforcement partners. Terroristic and dangerous acts will not be tolerated in Williamson County, and I am proud of the work to see that Myers cannot harm anyone again in Williamson County.”