Francisco Sanles, of Syosset, and his teen son charged after swastika leads police to chemicals for making rockets

A 15-year-old and his father face multiple charges after the teen was arrested Wednesday for allegedly drawing a swastika in a Syosset High School bathroom and the police then searched the family home, finding explosive materials supposedly used to make rockets, according to authorities.

For hours into nightfall Wednesday, the Nassau County Police Department kept the family's Syosset neighborhood evacuated while the bomb squad removed the alleged explosives-making materials from the Patricia Lane residence.

At the arraignment Thursday for the father, Francisco Sanles, 48, Nassau County prosecutor Victoria Sepe said the boy had scarring and burns on his hands and told police he previously spilled some of the chemicals on himself.

Neither the police department nor the school disclosed how or why the teen is suspected of having drawn the swastika.

Sepe said the boy told police his father had purchased the chemicals for him to build rockets.

Sanles pleaded not guilty to seven criminal counts, including felony criminal possession of explosives. Judge Anthony William Paradiso set bail at $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond. The court's database didn't say late Thursday whether bail had been posted.

The teen, whose name wasn't released, left the county's family courthouse after his arraignment Thursday at which the judge sealed the court to the public. Defense attorneys declined to comment.

The 15-year-old is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal mischief, first-degree aggravated harassment and making graffiti.

Sepe said when the police conducted "a wellness check" at the house, Sanles allowed a search of the property, where officers found "highly unstable" nitroglycerin, multiple acids, oxidizers and fuels. Sanles paid for the chemicals for his son to make rockets on multiple occasions, according to Sepe.

The bomb squad had been called in because the chemicals "were too dangerous and powerful to transport," she said, necessitating a controlled detonation in the backyard. 

A charging document said  Sanles' son told the police his father took him to various hardware stores, including Lowe's and Home Depot, to buy the chemicals.

The son said his father would buy the chemicals with his credit card but did not supervise him while he "heated/cooled/combined the chemicals," according to the document.

Sanles, who is seeking a private attorney, was appointed a Nassau County Legal Aid attorney in court.

The Legal Aid attorney, Nicholas Fiorino, said this was his client’s first arrest. He said Sanles "vehemently denies the allegations" and has cooperated with police.

Jim Beirne, 48, who lives across the street from the family, said he and his wife heard loud banging on their door from police around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Officers told them they had to leave immediately because of a hazmat situation. Beirne said they drove to his in-laws' home nearby.

After they returned to their house just before 10 p.m., Beirne said they saw hazmat trucks and tents set up at the residence and authorities in hazmat gear.

He also saw the teams line up the chemicals on the residence’s driveway. He and a neighbor, Steve Visalli, heard a blast set off by what they thought was the hazmat team detonating chemicals.

Visalli, who lives down the block from Beirne, said he felt his house shake and heard a loud boom. He described the incident as "pretty scary" and was shocked to hear of the boy's alleged connection to the graffitied swastika.

The Syosset school district in a letter to the community said the school was open Thursday and that counselors were available. The statement called the incident "deeply concerning."