Montgomery Man Arrested for Bomb Threats

MONTGOMERY, AL—Franklin Otis Boiner, 58, of Montgomery, Alabama, was arrested today for calling in a bomb threat to a Montgomery courthouse yesterday, announced George L. Beck, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.

According to the complaint filed in federal court, on March 5, 2013, at approximately 7:49 a.m., the Montgomery 911 Call Center received a telephone call from a male stating that there would be two bombs going off at the District Court at 9:30 a.m. Because there is a district court in both the federal and state courthouses, both courthouses were evacuated. Bomb technicians and bomb detection dogs were used to clear the courthouses before anyone was allowed to return to the buildings. Through call tracing and fingerprint analysis, law enforcement was able to determine that Boiner placed the phone call. According to the complaint, Boiner was scheduled to be at a court hearing in the Montgomery County Courthouse at 8:00 a.m. on March 5, 2013, the same day he called in the bomb threat.

“I would like to commend Sheriff Marshall and his office for their efficient yet thorough investigation and arrest in this bomb threat case,” stated U.S. Attorney Beck. Law enforcement’s quick response and arrest should serve as a warning that threats such as this one will be taken seriously. The rule of law has to be administered by the court system. Therefore, we have to be vigilant in protecting our court system.”

Special Agent in Charge of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Jeffrey L. Fulton, stated, “This investigation culminated as a result of the collaborative effort to ATF’s commitment to public safety.”

An arrest warrant and complaint merely allege that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Boiner faces a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison. He is also subject to fines and a period of supervised release if convicted.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Joint Terrorism Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department; and the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Denise Simpson is prosecuting the case.