2 accused in bomb threat are arraigned in Monroe

1/13/2004

MONROE — Two Michigan men accused of calling in a fake bomb threat that subsequently closed the Detroit Institute of Arts were arraigned yesterday in Monroe County 1st District Court on felony charges.

Thomas King, 20, of Gwinn, Mich., and Jason German, 26, of Taylor, Mich., were arraigned before Judge Terrence Bronson on one count each of filing a false report or threat of terrorism. They remained in the Mon|roe County jail last night, in lieu of $10,000 cash bond each.

The two men both work at the Detroit Auto Auction in Carleton. Michigan State Police said the two allegedly used an OnStar communications system in a car at the auction site Friday to phone in a claim that they had a bomb and were en route to blow up the DIA.

Any person found guilty of making a terrorist threat or false report of terrorism faces a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine under Michigan law.