A Vernal man who threatened to use a bomb at a local business pleaded guilty of lesser charges this week in 8th District Court. According to court documents, 38-year-old Joel Micah Lyda had gone into a local establishment and told an acquaintance that he was upset about a recent arrest and based on the outcome of that case he was planning to make a bomb in order to “get even”. The informant contacted police saying the she believed Lyda was planning to use a bomb at a local pizza place in Vernal. The court document later explains that Lyda was involved in a recent incident at the pizza place in which Lyda assaulted a juvenile employee because he believed his pizza was burned. Court documents show a history of erratic behavior like in 2014 when Lyda pulled a gun on an employer and a separate incident when Lyda pulled a gun out at a local business and was talking about killing people. Vernal Police began their investigation regarding the bomb threat on
July 19th
and Lyda was arrested on
July 20th
. Lyda pleaded not guilty to 2nd Degree Felony Threat of Terrorism and Misdemeanor charges of Possession or Use of a Controlled Substance, and Interference with an Arresting Officer.
On Tuesday
, Lyda changed his pleas to guilty to the lesser charge of 3rd Degree Felony Attempted Threat of Terrorism and Interference with an Arresting Officer. Lyda is scheduled for sentencing in 8th District Court on
October 25th
.
