Featured photo: 25-year-old Ceasar Brown
Videography by Anthony Davis
Written by Tanya Terry
25-year-old Ceasar Brown was recently charged by Prosecutor David Leyton with “false report or threat of terrorism”-a felony crime punishable by up to 20 years in state prison and “using a computer to commit a crime”-also a 20 year maximum felony crime.
According to Leyton, a phone call came in around 2:30 p.m. on the day of the recent expungement fair, held on the lawn of the Genesee County Jail. The caller informed of a bomb threat that was supposed to happen later that afternoon.
“You better have all the police at the Genesee County Jailhouse,” the caller said. “There’s going to be a bomb threat at 4 p.m. Saginaw Street, Genesee County Jail. Be prepared.”
The event was the first of its kind held after a state law passed in April of this year, allowing individuals with certain convictions to have their records expunged. Seven hundred eighteen people had registered through the attorney general’s office to have their records expunged and 1,443 people showed up that day, according to Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson. Other expungement fairs are to continue statewide.
“The investigation has revealed and we believe that Mr. Brown actually watched a Facebook live broadcast of the expungement fair and was very aware of what was going on here,” Genesee County Prosecutor Leyton said. “In addition, he had to have known, we believe, that the dignitaries were present.”
Leyton said at a June 15 press conference held in front of the Genesee County Jail he based the charges off the findings from the investigation.
Some of those in attendance to the event included Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Mayor Sheldon Neeley, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, Leyton, Swanson and church leaders, among others.
Though according to Swanson, social media had picked up on the fact there was a bomb threat during the expungement fair held, attendees to the event seemed to be largely unaware.
“The protection of innocent bystanders and victims is our utmost priority,” Swanson said.
Swanson said you can’t put fear and terror into innocent people without being held accountable.
“…Local law enforcement, state police, sheriff’s office, FBI worked together to bring safety to that day and the people that showed up here,” he said, also while standing in front of the Genesee County Jail.
“(And) any other event that we have on this lawn or in this county, we will make sure that we do all we can to protect it,” Swanson added. “If anybody tries to disrupt that we will hold them accountable.”
Leyton said with the help of the FBI and Michigan Police, led by the sheriff, they were able to identify the suspect as Ceasar Brown. Brown already had a felony warrant for breaking and entering through the 67th District Court.
“Mr. Brown was receiving pressure from his family to turn himself in,” Leyton said. “Mr. Brown was very nervous about turning himself in, and, frankly, didn’t want to go to jail. So, he decided to call in the bomb threat because he believed that bomb threat would close down the jail, and then he would not be in a position to have to succumb to the pressures from his own family and turn himself in. So, he called in that bomb threat, thinking that would make all things go away.”
On June 10, Brown walked into the Genesee County Jail and turned himself in for a crime with the potential for much larger penalties than the one his family originally wanted him to turn himself in for.
Leyton said Brown is innocent until proven guilty and after the press conference told the Flint Courier News he likely would not have not have had to serve time in prison for the breaking and entering charge, which he had not been arraigned on yet.
He also said after the press conference June 15 that they hope to learn whether Brown had any mental health issues.
“If he did, we will deal with that,” he said.
