PORT CLINTON, OH (Toledo News Now) - A man police say admitted he called in bomb threats to multiple northwest Ohio schools has changed his plea in the case. Attorneys representing Charles Tingler filed documents in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court Thursday changing Tingler's plea from not guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity.
The 22 year old Tingler is accused of calling in bomb threats to Toledo's Waite High School, as well as school buildings in Sandusky and Oak Harbor back in April. Police say Tingler used a phone number spoofing app to try to conceal his crimes. Investigators subpoenaed that application's records, which police say led them to Tingler.
Tingler faces a felony inducing panic charge, which could get him 8 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
According to the Sandusky County Sheriff's Office, Tingler told deputies one of his friends did not want to go to school on April 25. After calling in a bomb threat that day, police say Tingler continued to make threats, saying it became like a game to him.
It total, Ottawa County Sheriff Stephen Levorchick says Tingler admitted to making 10 or 11 threatening calls.
Tingler is due back in court next month.
