Every Thursday for three weeks in April, someone called in a bomb threat to the Ogden Courthouse — forcing evacuations and disruption of court business.
On Friday, Ogden police arrested two people suspected of being connected to the threats.
Jerry Kenton Larkin, 44, and Tonisha Lester, 44, both of Ogden, were booked into Weber County jail on Friday.
(Courtesy Ogden Police Department) Jerry Larkin
(Courtesy Ogden Police Department) Tonisha Lester
The two didn’t give police a motive for calling in the bomb threats, according to Ogden police Lt. Danielle Croyle, but she said she suspected it was to get out of a court hearing.
Larkin was indeed scheduled to appear in court for a third-degree felony driving under the influence of alcohol case during all three evacuations, according to court documents.
The first was on April 5, which was then rescheduled for the following Thursday, April 12, after his attorney requested a continuance.
That court date was rescheduled another week, to April 19, “because of extenuating circumstances,” the court docket shows.
And on April 19, about 30 minutes after Larkin’s 3 p.m. hearing — which he didn’t show up for — the courthouse received another bomb threat.
A warrant was issued for his arrest on Friday.
Larkin has a history of drug- and alcohol-related convictions dating back to 1995, according to Utah court records.
