New Charges for Cobb Bomb Suspect

The man arrested Tuesday after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of courthouses in Cobb and Cherokee counties faces five new charges in connection with a similar threat in January.

Cherokee investigators had already secured arrest warrants for Jody Wilson for the Jan. 2 and May 7 threats. Cobb authorities stopped short of linking him to the earlier threat, and only charged him in connection with Tuesday's incident.

Today, that changed.

In Cobb, Wilson now faces charges that include two counts of transmitting a false public alarm; two counts of preventing or disrupting lawful meetings, gatherings or processions; two counts of intimidation or injury of grand or petit or court officers; two counts of false statements in writing; and two counts of terroristic threats or acts.

With the exception of the false statements in writing charge, he faces similar charges in Cherokee, where his home is in foreclosure.

As was the case on the day of that January threat, Tuesday was the day that foreclosed properties went up for auction on the courthouse steps.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jay Baker said Wilson's home in the 7000 block of Surrey Drive "was scheduled to be sold on the courthouse steps," and detectives "believe that was the motive of the bomb threats."

The latest one came about 10:55 a.m. Tuesday. Investigators with the Cobb County Sheriff's Office said a call from a pay phone at the Citgo gas station on Fairgound and Roswell streets came in at Cobb County 911.

The caller stated "there was a bomb placed outside the Cherokee and the Cobb County courthouses," Warren said. 

No devices were found in Cobb or Cherokee, but "Cobb County Sheriff's Office investigators were able to determine the phone call was made form a pay phone by Jody John Wilson," Sheriff Neil Warren said Tuesday.

Marietta police located Wilson at The Starlight Café in Marietta. Wilson is the owner, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.

"After meeting with the Marietta police, sheriff's investigators were able to confirm Wilson as the suspect," Warren said.

When Wilson is released from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, he will be transported to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center, Baker said Tuesday.

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