If he wants to play like a terrorist treat him like one life behind bars no parole.
In Connecticut, Man Tells Police He Made Bomb Threats to Avoid Court Appearance
12-06-2005 12:54 PM
By PAT EATON-ROBB, Associated Press Writer
DANIELSON, Conn. -- A Connecticut man told police he phoned in four bomb threats that closed all of Connecticut's courthouses last week because he couldn't get a ride to court to face motor vehicle charges, according to an arrest warrant affidavit released Tuesday.
Javier Rodriguez, 28, was arraigned in Danielson Superior Court Tuesday afternoon on 17 charges, including four counts of terrorism, that could send him to prison for 80 years.
Judge Michael Riley ordered Rodriguez held on $250,000 bond.
"Years ago, a bomb scare, people laughed about it. People don't laugh about it anymore," Riley said. "You can't turn the state upside down as you did and not answer for your actions."
Prosecutors said Rodriguez, a food service worker at the University of Connecticut, made four threatening phone calls Friday.
The first two went to the governor's office and did not mention specific courthouses, though in the second Rodriguez allegedly demanded $1.5 million and said he would call back in 10 minutes, according to the affidavit.
In the third call, to a state public safety tip line, he allegedly said he had planted two bombs.
"Yeah. There have been two bombs located in the state of Connecticut in one of your courthouses," he said, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. "There's 24 hours to disconnect them."
His fourth call, according to the arrest warrant affidavit, was made around 11 a.m. to Danielson Superior Court, where he was to appear Friday on several motor vehicle charges, including driving with a suspended license.
He allegedly said there was a bomb in the building and everyone should get out immediately.
The state police evacuated all 45 state courthouses, which remained closed through Friday evening while bomb-sniffing dogs searched for explosives. Three federal courthouses were searched but not evacuated.
The public defender representing Rodriguez at Tuesday's hearing argued for a lower bond, saying Rodriguez had cooperated with police and confessed to making the calls.
Officials said Rodriguez has been arrested six times in Connecticut. In five out of the six cases, he failed to appear in court to face charges.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topic: Maybe this time they will keep him behind bars instead of letting him go (Read 877 times)