CLEVELAND: An ex-convict pleaded guilty Thursday to making more than 100 telephone bomb threats to courthouses and other public buildings in five states, and a judge promptly sentenced him to 51 months in prison.
Lonny Bristow, 39, of Mansfield, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, waived a standard presentence report and was sentenced by Judge Dan Aaron Polster.
Bristow was arrested in bomb threats made in November and December to courthouses and other public buildings in Nebraska, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee and Mississippi.
The FBI said it traced numerous bomb threats to prepaid phone cards purchased at a Walmart store in Upper Sandusky, about 40 miles west of Mansfield.
Bristow made at least 10 threatening calls Nov. 2 to Nebraska, at least nine on Nov. 15 to Washington, at least 30 on Nov. 19 to Oregon, at least 32 on Nov. 27 to Tennessee, at least 30 on Dec. 12 to Mississippi and at least 17 on Dec. 17 to Mississippi, according to a court filing.
No explosives were found.
The Mansfield News Journal reported last month that since 1993, Bristow filed at least 137 lawsuits, targeting law enforcement personnel, judges, media outlets and others. In 1997, he was labeled a “vexatious litigator,” someone who files annoying lawsuits.
Bristow also was the first inmate in Ohio to have his mail privileges revoked, the newspaper reported.
He received a 13-year prison sentence for theft, retaliation, aiding an escape, harassment by an inmate and telephone harassment.