Blaugh bound over to circuit court

Jeffery Blaugh Jr. was bound over to 26th Circuit Court on charges of false report or a threat of terrorism following a preliminary examination in 88th District Court on Tuesday.

Blaugh is accused of making a bomb threat on June 16 at the Alpena County Courthouse, to allegedly postpone his sentencing for unauthorized use of a vehicle. He was sentenced before the building was evacuated.

Judge Theodore Johnson heard from three witnesses before allowing charges of false report or a threat of terrorism or making a bomb threat.

Michelle Hamilton, Blaugh's girlfriend, testified Blaugh had asked her "six or seven times" to call in the bomb threat while they were at the courthouse.

She said at one point Blaugh left the courtroom for five minutes and came back breathing heavy and seemed scared. She said Blaugh gave her his phone before he was sentenced. Once he was sentenced she said she left the courthouse.

Mark Gurisko, the 911 dispatcher who took the call reporting the bomb, said the call was received before 10 a.m.

"It was a brief statement," Gurisko said. "A male voice said 'I've placed a bomb in the Alpena County Courthouse.'"

Alpena County Sheriff Deputy Steven Slominski said he and another police officer located Hamilton shortly after the threat was placed and found the phone the call was made from.

A call was then made from the same phone to central dispatch and the number matched the number from which the bomb threat was made.

Slominski said a text message also was discovered on the phone that was sent to central dispatch that read "There is a bomb in the courthouse." Gurisko said the dispatch center cannot accept text messages.

Blaugh was interviewed around 11:25 a.m. June 16, and initially denied any involvement with the threat, saying he let someone in the courthouse bathroom use his phone, Slominski said.

"He said he'd never do something like that," Slominski said.

The story then changed to Blaugh offering a man $10 to place the call for him, Slominski said. Eventually Blaugh admitted to placing the call himself, though he would not give a written statement to that effect.

Alpena County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Judi Twarozynski said false report or a threat of terrorism carries a 20-year sentence and making a bomb threat is a four-year sentence. The bomb threat charge is an alternate to the false report charge.

"At this point that is how we're pursuing it, as an either/or," Twarozynski said.

If found guilty, Blaugh would be required to pay the cost for the government to respond to the incident, which included bringing a bomb sniffing dog from Gaylord.

The next hearing in the case will be held in August, during which Blaugh will enter a plea.

Defense attorney Michael Lamble declined to comment.

Sean Harkins can be reached via e-mail at sharkins@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.