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A Fort Bragg Green Beret charged with trying to carry explosives onto a plane in Texas told investigators he was unaware that C-4 was in his carry-on bag.

Sgt. 1st Class Trey Scott Atwater, 30, of Hope Mills, was arrested Saturday at Midland International Airport. Atwater said he had not used his bag since it was brought back from Afghanistan in April, according to a federal affidavit released Tuesday. For a family trip to Texas, Atwater said, he took the bag from his garage to carry children's items.

Atwater waived a scheduled hearing Tuesday, meaning he will remain in custody at the Midland County Jail, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Midland.

If convicted, Atwater faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine.

Christmas Eve flight

Atwater told the FBI he was surprised the C-4 plastic explosive was in the bag.

He flew out of Fayetteville Regional Airport to Texas on Christmas Eve. Security officers at the Fayetteville airport detained Atwater after finding a military smoke grenade in his bag but they apparently did not find any other contraband. Transportation Security Administration officers allowed Atwater to continue on the flight to Midland after confiscating the grenade and admonishing him, the FBI affidavit said.

Brad Whited, director of the Fayetteville Regional Airport, declined to discuss the incident or security concerns at the airport.

A TSA spokeswoman said Tuesday the agency could not comment about the incident.

Demolitions expert

Atwater, a demolitions expert and instructor at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, had deployed to Afghanistan with the 7th Special Forces Group. It was his third deployment to the country.

A 12-year veteran, Atwater was previously awarded a Bronze Star, according to Army Special Operations Command.

Atwater told the FBI it is standard procedure for his Special Forces team to carry at least two blocks of C-4 on any operation and he typically carried more than that.

Atwater did not mention the Fayetteville incident to investigators in Texas, the affidavit said, but he acknowledged it after being questioned by the FBI.

He was arrested after TSA officers in Texas detected a suspicious item in a carry-on bag during X-ray screening, authorities say.

Officials said Atwater was carrying explosives in military-grade wrapping.

'Stable' explosive

The FBI said there was no danger to anyone at the Midland airport. A former explosives ordnance disposal soldier said the C-4 would have been virtually harmless without the proper detonators.

"It is the most stable explosive the U.S. has ever used," said former Staff Sgt. Herb Wells, who spent more than a decade with the Army. "That stuff is made for American soldiers who are clumsy at times. There was no chance of an explosion so long as there wasn't a detonator. In his hands, it's as safe as a mother's child in her arms."

Atwater and his wife and family had been visiting relatives in Texas and were on their way back to Fort Bragg, according to local media reports.

He had a reservation on American Eagle Flight 3283, which had a scheduled departure of 9:45 a.m. Saturday.

Safety procedures

Lt. Col. Tom Bryant, a spokesman for Army Special Operations Command, said a number of procedures are in place to prevent soldiers from bringing ammunition or explosives home from the battlefield but those precautions vary from unit to unit.

According to Army records, Atwater enlisted in the Army Reserves in November 1999 and joined the active service in April 2006. He was promoted to his current rank in October 2007.

In addition to his Bronze Star, Atwater's awards and commendations include the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, NATO Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Special Forces tab and Rangers tab.