A Spafford man faces five criminal charges relating to weapons and drugs – not to mention recovering from a severe injury – after a botched attempt to blow up a beaver dam near his property with a homemade explosive ended with a visit from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department.

Justin Clark, 22, of Cold Brook Road, was constructing a homemade explosive using gunpowder in order to remove the beaver dam on Saturday, Jan. 21, when the device accidentally exploded, according to the sheriff’s office. Clark sustained a “severe” hand injury and was transported to University Hospital for treatment.

During the investigation of the incident, sheriff’s department detectives discovered 10 marijuana plants growing inside Clark’s home.

Clark was charged on Jan. 25 with three Class D felonies, one misdemeanor and one violation: criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, unlawfully growing cannabis and unlawful possession of marijuana.

He was arraigned in Spafford Town Court on Jan. 25, where he was released to the Onondaga County Probation Department’s pre-trial release program.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].