LANSING, Mich. — A man who reportedly threatened to kill a state representative has now been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly made a threatening phone call Thursday claiming there was a bomb at the Michigan Capitol building.
Following an investigation and arrest by the Michigan State Police (MSP), Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office has charged a Charlotte man with felony terrorism charges.
Michael Varrone, 48, was arrested outside his residence Thursday afternoon without incident by the MSP Emergency Support Team and Fugitive Team and is currently lodged at the Lansing City Jail.
Thursday morning authorities determined the bomb threat to be false and the building was safe to enter around 9:30 a.m.
Varrone was arraigned Friday in Lansing on two counts of false report or threat of terrorism, a 20-year felony; and one count of false report or threat of bomb/harmful device, a four-year felony. One count of false report or threat of terrorism is related to a phone call Varrone allegedly made in December in which he threatened the life of state Rep. Cynthia Johnson. The other two charges stem from Thursday’s reported bomb threat.
The court set Varrone's bond at $50,000. Varrone has a probable cause conference scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 22 and a preliminary exam scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 28.
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