WASHINGTON —

A New Jersey man has been arrested on charges that he had explosive materials in his possession near a Washington, D.C., church that was preparing to celebrate an annual Mass marking the start of the U.S. Supreme Court's term, according to police and court records.

Louis Geri, 41, of Vineland, New Jersey, was charged with possession of a destructive device after his arrest on Sunday outside St. Matthew’s Cathedral, court records show.

Some Supreme Court justices usually attend the annual Red Mass. No justices went to this year's celebration, a court spokesperson said.

Police officers were clearing the area near the Roman Catholic church before the ceremony when they saw Geri setting up a tent on steps leading into the church. Geri had been barred from the premises previous

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