TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A federal judge in Tampa has denied bail to a man facing charges after the FBI and sheriff's deputies uncovered an arsenal at his Pasco County home.
But an attorney on Tuesday described Paul James Szaraz as a "prepper" who was preparing to protect himself.
The Tampa Bay Times reports the cache found at Szaraz's 12-acre residence during a March 22 raid included 12 AK-47-type rifles, a fully automatic MP44 assault rifle, a German-built MG08/15 machine gun, a .50-caliber sniper rifle, four .45-caliber pistols, scores of AK-47 magazines and more than 17,000 rounds of ammunition.
Officials say Szaraz, a felon who can't legally own a gun, was arrested on a federal gun charge.
Prosecutors expressed concern for the safety of the informant to led authorities to the stockpile.
