Ohio Man Charged with Making Threats

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Charles James Reighard, age 67, of Burghill, Ohio, with mailing threatening communications, and threatening to damage or destroy a building by means of an explosive, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Count 1 of the indictment charges that from on or about September 4, 2014, to on or about October 17, 2014, Reighard sent communications to his victim with the intent to extort money from him and which contained a threat to injure him and/or his family.

Count 2 of the indictment charges that on or about October 16, 2014, Reighard engaged in conduct with the intent to convey false or misleading information that the offices at 6630 Seville Drive, in Canfield, Ohio, would be damaged or destroyed by an explosive.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Seabury Gould, following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations of Youngstown, and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.