Man who planted fake bomb ordered held until trial

Staff Report

YOUNGSTOWN

The man accused of planting a fake bomb at the law office of Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras was arraigned in federal court Wednesday and ordered held without bond.

Charles Reighard, 67, of state Route 7, Burghill, entered not guilty pleas before Magistrate Judge George Limbert in U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio to charges he tried to extort money through the mail from Betras and he threatened to destroy Betras’ office with an explosive.

Lambert ordered Reighard be held without bond pending his trial.

Police found a fake bomb at Betras’ Canfield law office Oct. 16. Federal authorities said that is the same day Reighard implied the office could be destroyed by a bomb.

On Sept. 4 and Oct. 17 Reighard is accused of demanding money from Betras or he would harm him and his family. Judge Limbert ordered Nov. 4 that Reighard be held without bond because he considered him a risk to produce a real bomb.

Betras represented Reighard, who was charged in 1999 with vandalism over allegations he caused new cars to catch fire by deliberately driving a car into them at the General Motors Lordstown plant, where he was employed.

Betras negotiated a deal, in which Reighard pleaded guilty to telecommunications harassment and was put on five years’ probation.

Reighard claimed, however, that Betras, the prosecutor and the judge conspired to get him fired from GM and to “ruin his life,” according to an FBI agent’s affidavit.