Crime & Safety

Man Convicted After Bomb Scare at Trenton High School

John Robert Kennedy, 42, put high school students and other members of the public in danger by placing explosives in parking lots, according to United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.

A Trenton man was found guilty on explosive and other related charges by a federal jury in Ann Arbor Wednesday, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office.

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John Robert Kennedy, 42, was charged with felon in possession of explosives, possession of an unregistered destructive device and felon in possession of ammunition. Before the trial, Kennedy pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of explosives and ammunition. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine -- or both.

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Sentencing for Kennedy is scheduled for March 5, 2013.

Evidence presented in the trial showed that on April 28, 2011 Kennedy telephoned a bomb threat to Trenton High School, while disguising his voice in a Middle Eastern accent. He threatened that four bombs would be detonated in the school with the hour, according to the same release.

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The high school was evacuated and a device was found in a parking lot by a teacher. It was then safely disintegrated by the Wayne County Airport Authority's Explosives Ordinance Disposal unit.

Kennedy also detonated a device in the parking lot of an ACO Hardware Store on April 29, 2011. Witnesses described an explosion with clouds of white smoke, according to the release.

"This defendant put high school students and other members of the public in danger by placing explosives in parking lots," United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said. "We hope that this prosecution will deter anyone with similar ideas."

David L. McCain, agent in charge of the case for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), thanked the Trenton Police Department, the Wayne County Airport Bomb Squad and Michigan State Police for their valuable contributions and assistance in the investigation.


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