Everett man pleads guilty to pipe-bombing neighbor’s car, leaving racist voice message
Sep 29, 2025, 2:01 PM
A photo of the U.S. Department of Justice Seal. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Justice)
(Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Justice)
A 54-year-old Everett man pleaded guilty Friday to three federal felonies in connection with a pipe bomb explosion that destroyed a neighbor’s vehicle in Snohomish County.
Steven Goldstine pleaded guilty to three unlawful possession charges, including a firearm on September 4, 2020, a destructive device on December 31, 2024, and ammunition on March 17, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
The DOJ noted Goldstine was initially charged with a suspected hate crime and is scheduled for sentencing on December 15, 2025.
On December 31, 2024, Everett police were alerted to a reported explosion inside a car parked at an apartment complex. The victims told law enforcement they suspected Goldstine was involved due to past conflicts.
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Racist voice message left after Everett pipe bomb incident
The day following the explosion, the victims received a voice message with racial slurs referencing the vehicle explosion.
The message left by Goldstine was, “Hey you ********… are you still having breathing problems?… How is your car running?… boy, what an explosion that was!” according to KIRO 7.
Investigators further analyzed records and concluded Goldstine was the primary suspect.
Video surveillance footage from the apartment complex revealed the bomber’s clothing and direction of travel following the explosion.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Goldstine’s home, finding a jacket and shoes that appeared to match those pictured in the footage. More than 700 rounds of ammunition were also seized during the search warrant.
DOJ noted Goldstine is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions for burglary, arson, and possession of stolen property.
On September 17, 2020, law enforcement searched Goldstine’s home after a report of him driving his car and pointing a gun at protesters was submitted to the police. The firearm was seized by law enforcement.
The unlawful possession of a destructive device and a firearm is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, unlawful possession of ammunition is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
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