WILHOIT MAN FOUND GUILTY BY JURY OF MAKING A FALSE REPORT OF A BOMB THREAT

ON FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2023, A YAVAPAI COUNTY JURY FOUND 51-YEAR-OLD JOHN AARON PATTEN OF WILHOIT, GUILTY OF MAKING A FALSE REPORT OF A TERRORIST THREAT.

ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 2, 2022, PATTEN TEXTED 911 AND DEMANDED THE FBI RESPOND TO HIS LOCATION, “OR ITS GONNA BLOW.” ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER PATTEN, A CONVICTED FELON, CALLED 911 AND MADE CLEAR HIS COMMUNICATION WAS A “BOMB THREAT.” THROUGHOUT THE DAY PATTEN USED MULTIPLE PHONES TO REPEATEDLY CALL 911.

THE YAVAPAI COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, A LOCAL SWAT TEAM, THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY BOMB SQUAD, AND LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS RESPONDED TO PATTEN’S LOCATION. PATTEN BARRICADED HIMSELF IN A TRAILER AND REFUSED TO SURRENDER FOR OVER EIGHT HOURS.

AS A RESULT OF THEIR SUPERB TRAINING AND SKILL IN RESPONDING TO BARRICADED SUBJECTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ULTIMATELY REMOVED PATTEN FROM HIS TRAILER WITHOUT INJURY.

A THOROUGH SEARCH OF PATTEN’S PROPERTY REVEALED THAT THE BOMB DID NOT ACTUALLY EXIST. PATTEN LATER TOLD A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY THAT HE HAD USED SO MUCH METHAMPHETAMINE THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 12, 2023 AT 1:00 P.M. BEFORE THE HONORABLE DEBRA PHELAN OF THE YAVAPAI COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT.

PATTEN IS FACING BETWEEN 7.5 AND 25 YEARS IN THE ARIZONA

STATE PRISON.