Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening
to Place Bombs at UCSD Campus
United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt
announced that Richard Sills pled guilty today in federal
court in San Diego to an Information charging him with
one count of threats involving animal enterprises
in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section
43(a) and (b)(2)(A). Sills entered his guilty plea
before Magistrate Judge Louisa S. Porter, subject to
final acceptance of the plea by United States District
Court Judge Larry A. Burns.
According to court records, Sills admitted
that on or about December 5, 2007, he made a series
of threatening phone calls and sent one letter to the
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) that warned
of the placement of bombs in six campus buildings.
Sills admitted that he made the threats in order to
interfere with the activities of UCSD’s animal
research facilities. After Sills made the threats,
UCSD employees discovered a hoax improvised explosive
device in the Leichtag Building, a campus research
facility where scientists conduct animal testing. Sills
admitted responsibility for the hoax device. Court
records also reveal that the economic damage caused
by the hoax bomb scare totaled $10,419.01. Defendant
has agreed to make restitution in this amount to the
victims in this case, which include UCSD.
Sentencing for Sills is scheduled for
June 16, 2008, at 9:30 a.m., before United States District
Court Judge Larry A. Burns.
DEFENDANT Case Number:
08cr0213-LAB
RICHARD SILLS
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, United States Code, Section 43 (Threats Involving
Animal Enterprises)
Maximum Penalty: 5 years incarceration, $250,000 fine,
restitution to victims, and up to three years on
supervised release.
AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department
UCSD Police Department
