A Carbon County man was spared a prison term on Friday in a bomb threat incident at the county courthouse in Jim Thorpe, when the presiding judge gave him credit for time spent in an inpatient rehab center.

Christopher A. Ohl, 45, now living at a residence in Harrisburg run by the Salvation Army, was sentenced in three pending cases including the bomb threat, which occurred on Oct. 21, 2020. The incident caused the evacuation of the courthouse and surrounding buildings.

Arrested with Ohl was Jason Bracero, of Jim Thorpe, who authorities said was the person who made the phone call of the bomb threat using a cellphone provided to him by Ohl.

Bracero pleaded guilty to his part in the incident and in August 2021, he was sentenced to serve 18 to 60 months in a state correctional institution by Judge Steven R. Serfass on a charge of terroristic threats, as a felony.

According to a statement from the DA’s office, Ohl was scheduled for a urine test at the Carbon County Adult Probation office, but was concerned about failing the test.

Bracero offered to call in a bomb threat for Ohl, and Ohl bought the prepaid cellphone which was used in the threat, investigators said.

Cellphone tower data led detectives to the location where the call was made. Video surveillance footage obtained from the scene allegedly showed Bracero walking away from Ohl’s car with the phone.

The District Attorney Michael S. Greek said Carbon County detectives and Jim Thorpe Police provided a quick response based on an anonymous tip.

Assistant District Attorney Gary F. Dobias told President Judge Roger N. Nanovic that chief detective Timothy Nothstein and his assistant, Christopher Ritter, did an excellent job in tracking down the cellphone, the surveillance video that showed Bracero with a cellphone at a business in Lehighton making a call at the time the call was received by the sheriff’s department, and also locating the store where the phone was purchased and video of a female making the purchase, who was with the two men when the call was made.

Defense attorney Matthew J. Rapa said his client was addicted to drugs at the time and that occurred late in his life. He said he didn’t start using drugs until in his 40s. He said his use of illegal substances included him receiving painkillers for an injury and then the breakup of a long-term relationship with a female.

Rapa said Ohl entered the Salvation Army long-term drug treatment inpatient program and remained in it for 197 days. He said after he successfully completed it he decided to stay with the Salvation Army and work for them and remain living at a home in Harrisburg run by the organization.

Ohl told the court, “I feel I’ve changed as a person due to the Salvation Army.” He said he lost track of everything when he began using drugs but added, “I feel like a much better person.”

He claimed he didn’t know that Bracero actually made the bomb threat call until later in the evening, something Nanovic questioned. He said the evidence shows Ohl knew when Bracera made the call.

Nanovic said he would give Ohl credit for the time spent in the Salvation Army program and any jail time. He said, “I’m accepting that you have changed.”

He added, “You’re being given a very significant break. I could have sent you to a state prison.”

On the threats charge he was sentenced to serve six to one day less 24 months in prison. On charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance stemming from other cases, a jail term was imposed but the terms are running concurrently with the threats charge.

Ohl was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use, supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of over $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.

Ohl also was hit hard financially. He was ordered to forfeit $3,897 in cash found on him when arrested and make total restitution of $2,149.18 for losses suffered by a business forced to be close, overtime pay and other expenses to the county.