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Updated: Attorney charged in connection with bomb threats to Wilton schools

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On March 29, 2012, fire and police department personnel helped evacuate and secure the Wilton schools, after bomb threats were received. A man was charged on June 29 with terrorizing in connection with the case.

WILTON – A 52-year-old Rumford-based attorney has been charged with two counts of terrorizing in connection with bomb threat calls made to the two Wilton elementary schools in March.

Ronald E. Hoffman, of Sumner, was charged on Friday with two counts of Class D misdemeanor terrorizing.

“The charges are the result of an intensive investigation by the Wilton Police Department and the Major Crimes Division of the Maine State Police,” Wilton Police Chief Heidi M. Wilcox said in a prepared statement.

On March 29, 363 pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students were evacuated from G.D. Cushing and Academy Hill schools following a pair of bomb threats called in to each building just after class started.

The calls were received by staff at the Wilton schools by a man allegedly indicating there was a bomb in the building. At the time, Wilcox described the caller’s voice as an “adult male with slurred speech.”

School officials immediately contacted the Franklin County dispatch center at 9:24 a.m. Students, 146 of whom were between the ages of three and seven and 217 between the ages of eight through 12, were evacuated to Farmington schools. Three fire departments, Wilton, county and state police officers responded to both Wilton schools. A NorthStar EMS ambulance stood by at the Wilton Public Safety Department station.

State police brought in bomb sniffing dogs to clear the buildings and no suspicious devices were found. Students returned to class in Wilton the next day.

According to Wilcox, her department worked with Detectives Randall Keaten and Leonard Bolton of the Major Crimes Unit of the State Police and a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“The investigation involved numerous search warrants to include warrants for cell phones and cell phone tower data which led us to Mr. Hoffman,” Wilcox said.

Wilcox noted that because Hoffman is an attorney who currently practices in Franklin and Oxford counties, the prosecution of the case is being handled by the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office.

“I have asked for restitution for the schools, fire departments, and ambulance service,” Wilcox said.

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23 Comments

  1. Bomb threats are expensive, disruptive, and often frightening for the students involved. Being a teacher who has experienced many bomb threats over the years, I can say that there is no excuse for anyone (let alone an educated adult) to make one. I thank the police and the FBI for their hard work on this. Solving and prosecuting these cases is the best way to discourage future incidents.

  2. “Charged in connection with” doesn’t necessarily mean he did it himself. Maybe he is protecting or has knowledge of the person who actually called.

  3. what the heck? an attorney? aren’t they basically part of law enforcement?

    this world confuses me

  4. O.J Simpson didn’t “get by” ‘cuz of Johnny Cochran and F Lee Baily’s closeness/affiliation to/with the prosecution

    He got by ‘cuz they got out lawyer’d Ms Clark and her prosecution team (that’s what defense attorneys do)

    …………………somebody miss/flunk Civics 101 some where?

    It is surprising how many attorneys do dumb things and get caught!

  5. Not even close to law enforcement.
    There are a few good ones but most are closer to the criminal category.
    Not really surprised. Very immature. We’ll see what his punishment is….

  6. I say can NEVER judge a book by the cover. do we really know who people are that we think we know. or do we see they title or what we want to ?

  7. If proven guilty he may need to look for a different occupation. What a waist of manpower, and the real issue is terrorizing innocent children… There are easier ways to get an orange jump suit.. Hope he likes the attention.. Unfortunately his business will probably increase from this…

  8. GREAT JOB CHIEF WILCOX, AND THE ENTIRE WILTON PD. You did well to complete the detective work and to bite your tongues until the time was right. Thanks.

  9. Read in Sunday’s Lewiston Sun that the Somerset DA’s office may be offering a plea deal. If Hoffman is guilty I hope a deal is not offered. This is a terrorist act and should be prosecuted as such.

  10. If found guilty, the bar should and most likely will take his license to practice law in the state of Maine

  11. .Hey Ron, I do not know what happened here but your friends are here for you.

  12. No lawyers are not a part of law enforcement. They are to provide legal defense to ensure a legal trial. When there is a bomb threat to a school, the terrorizing charges should be per person affected, in this case the 300 + students plus the staff, every parent and fire and law enforcement that had to respond. That would surely deter others whom feel the need to terrorize in such a manner….they are worse than the non americans who terrorize our country.

  13. Says tied to his phone, doesn’t necessarily mean it was him, let’s wait and see before we throw stones

  14. Great Job Chief Heidi Wilcox and fellow officers. Thank you for your diligence, use of resources and willingness to charge…..regardless of Title.

  15. The charge seems appropriate for 13 year old kids, but for a professional adult? Should be a felony charge. Kudos to all and how sad for the students and for the suspect.

  16. Love that our new police chief is getting it done. Great job to all involved, I appreciate your dedication to our town and my children!

  17. Threatening to cause bodily harm to children ages 3 – 13 should not be a misdemeaner, it should be a felony. When people under the age of 18 call in a bomb threat, it should be a felony also, but it will come off their record. Anyone over the age of 18 should know better!!! I don’t care if he was an attorney or a blue collar worker, the penalty should be the same for anyone threatening children!!! Can you imagine, a slap on the had for the cost and stress a bomb scare causes. Really!!!!

  18. This is the result of Wilton now having a real Police Chief that truely CARES ABOUT THE TOWN SHE SERVES !!! Thank you Chief Wilcoxs

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