Trial date set for man charged with making terrorist threat to business in Tanner

TANNER, AL (WAFF) - A trial date was set for a man charged with making a terrorist threat that caused the evacuation of a local business. John Sanford waived his arraignment, his lawyer entered a not guilty plea for him, and his trial date was set.

That trial is on the docket for Feb. 9. A Limestone grand jury indicted Sanford for making a terrorist threat last month. He is free on a $10,000 bond.

Investigators said on Dec.18 of last year, Carpenter Technology in Tanner received a bomb threat by phone. They evacuated all of their employees as authorities searched the area. No device was found but according to investigators, the number the call was made from was the only thing that was found. They said the evidence was linked to that number.

Investigators said Sanford had sent a text to his girlfriend about the bomb threat and authorities arrested him at his home in Decatur that night. He was working for a contractor hired by Carpenter. Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely said that at the time, Sanford told investigators he was happy at his job and had no ill will towards anyone. Blakely said he believed Sanford simply wanted a day off from work.

Carpenter Technology evacuated the business the day before because someone painted a bomb threat on construction materials at the plant. Sanford was not charged for that incident.

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