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Man Accused in Jewish Center Video Threat Pleads Not Guilty
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
Update 4:00 p.m.
STRUTHERS, Ohio (AP) – A 20-year-old Ohio man accused of threatening a Jewish community center in a video that police say shows him shooting a rifle has pleaded not guilty.
A judge near Youngstown set bond at $250,000 for James Reardon on Monday and ordered him to stay away from Jewish churches and organizations if he’s released from jail.
Police arrested Reardon, of New Middletown, Saturday on telecommunications harassment and aggravated menacing charges.
New Middletown police say he posted a video on Instagram last month of himself shooting a semi-automatic rifle.
The video included sounds of sirens and screaming with the caption: “Police identified the Youngstown Jewish Family Community shooter as local white nationalist.”
Police say they found weapons and anti-Semitic information at his home.
A message seeking comment was left with his attorney.
NEW MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) — Police say a man accused of making what they believe was a threat to a Jewish center in Ohio on Instagram has been arrested on telecommunications harassment and aggravated menacing charges.
New Middletown police say they arrested 20-year-old James Reardon, Jr., at his home Saturday in the Mahoning County village. WKBN-TV reports Police Chief Vincent D’Egidio said Reardon allegedly posted a video last month of a man shooting a semi-automatic rifle with the caption: “Police identified the Youngstown Jewish Family Community shooter as local white nationalist Seamus O’Rearedon.”
The post was tagged the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown. Authorities say the Instagram account was Reardon’s.
Police said rounds of ammunition, semi-automatic weapons and anti-Semitic information were found at his house.
It couldn’t be determined whether Reardon has an attorney.