Executive Summary
- Steven Sandoval charged with felony false reporting of explosives after a threat to Adams County Courthouse.
- The bomb threat coincided with Sandoval’s scheduled sentencing hearing for a prior identity theft case.
- Authorities evacuated the courthouse and a nearby grocery store; the defendant has a history of 56 cases in Colorado.
A Colorado man faces felony charges after allegedly calling in a bomb threat to the Adams County Courthouse on the same day he was scheduled to appear for sentencing in a separate criminal matter.
Steven Sandoval, 47, was arrested on Sunday and formally charged Wednesday with false reporting of explosives, weapons, or harmful substances—a felony—and a misdemeanor count of false reporting of an emergency. According to the Adams County District Attorney’s Office, the threat was received last week, prompting the immediate evacuation of the Adams County Courthouse in Brighton and a nearby grocery store. Investigators believe the call originated from the vicinity of the grocery store.
Court records indicate that at the time of the threat, Sandoval was due in court for sentencing regarding a previous identity theft conviction. The docket for that day notes that the "party failed to appear." Following his arrest on an outstanding warrant Monday, authorities confirmed he is currently being held at the Adams County Jail on a $100,000 cash or surety bond.
The defendant has a prolific criminal history in the state. Court filings reveal 56 cases involving Sandoval in Colorado dating back to 1996, spanning multiple counties including Boulder, Denver, and Jefferson. His past convictions include trespassing, unlawful use of a controlled substance, forgery of a government-issued document, and attempted escape by a convicted felon. Sandoval is represented by the Public Defender’s Office and is scheduled to return to court for the bomb threat case on March 4, with the rescheduled sentencing for identity theft set for March 9.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Judicial Integrity and Procedural Impact
The alleged use of a bomb threat to disrupt a scheduled sentencing hearing represents a significant challenge to judicial integrity and court security protocols. Such incidents not only drain law enforcement resources required to clear and secure public buildings but also cause substantial delays in the administration of justice. As this case proceeds, the judicial system will likely scrutinize the timing of the threat relative to the scheduled hearing to determine if it constitutes an aggravating factor or a deliberate attempt to obstruct the legal process.
