Jacobs bound over to circuit court

Ashley Teffer
Jesse Mark Jacobs, 19, of Alpena was bound over to circuit court for making a terrorist threat following a preliminary exam Thursday.

The charges originate from allegations he made a threatening comment in the Alpena Mall parking lot that lead others to believe he intended to shoot Alpena High School students while they entered senior prom.

“There’s probable cause that this crime occurred the threat of terrorism and probable cause that Jesse M. Jacobs, did it, made the threat that is,” said Alpena County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Judi Twarozynski. “He’s being charged with false report or threat of terrorism. It’s 20 years and or $20,000 fine. And basically how it reads is that he did threaten to commit the act of terrorism or did communicate that threat to another person.”

During the exam the prosecution brought in five witnesses in addition to a Model 12 Varmint rifle found in the Jacob’s home. According to witness Dave Karschnick Jr., Jacobs and his father, Mark, went into his store, Fast Cash and Guns April 4 to look at a Model 12 Varmint rifle. After Karschnick finished a background check the Jacobses returned to the store.

“Saturday morning they picked up the gun,” Karschnick said. “A Model 12 Varmint rifle. It can be used for prairie dogs, crows.”

The following morning Jacobs and his father picked up the gun from Karschnick’s store.

The second witness, a senior at Alpena High School, said he saw Jacobs with the gun in the mall parking lot during his lunch break on April 23.

“The first time he had the gun out I didn’t think nothing of it,” the student, who is a minor, said.

The following Friday Jacobs allegedly approached the group of students eating lunch in the mall parking lot and told them not to go to prom cause he’d be there with his sniper.

The students at the high school reported the threat to AHS Liaison Officer Chet Spencer on April 25, the officer then passed the information onto the Michigan State Police.

After Jacobs was placed into custody a consent search for the search and seisure of the rifle was issued to Sgt. Steve Harshberger.

“Mr. Jacobs followed me over to his house,” Harshberger said. “(The gun) was locked up in a gun case in what I would consider to be the master bedroom.”

The fourth witness, MSP Trooper Richard Tucker said Jacobs at first denied making the statements about prom and then later changed his mind.

“(Jacobs) stated that he made an off-hand comment about looking through the scope of his rifle,” Tucker said.

Jacobs will have another court date and more than likely another arraignment at in circuit court, according to Twarozynski.

Ashley Teffer can be reached via e-mail at ateffer@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689.