Charges Dismissed In False Bomb Call

A Bannock County magistrate has dismissed a charge against a man accused of calling in a false report that a bomb had been planted on the Ten Commandments monument outside the courthouse.

Magistrate Ted Israel said Friday that prosecutors failed to show “independent corroboration” or evidence that Terry Ewing, 21, participated in the April 13 hoax.

The report called in to police prompted an evacuation of businesses within several blocks of the courthouse. A special bomb squad team was called from Mountain Home Air Force Base, but the device turned out to be flares and not sticks of dynamite.

Friday’s decision followed a preliminary hearing for Ewing on a felony charge of being a principal to false reports concerning explosives. Israel said the fact that Ewing admitted he was present when the crime was committed was not sufficient evidence to bind him over to 6th District Court.

Bannock County Prosecutor Mark Hiedeman said afterward the investigation of the bomb hoax would continue and new charges would be filed against Ewing if corroborating evidence is found.