Man admits making fake bomb threat but says he’s too overweight to face judge

Courtesy FOX 17



GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Michigan man admits he phoned in a fake bomb threat two years ago, but now says he can’t face a judge because he weighs too much.

Jeffery Klein told FOX 17 News he weighs 625 lbs and that he says has meant missing multiple court appearances.

Klein said his legal battle began two years ago with what he called a “stupid decision.”

“I was upset,” he said. “I admitted to police that I did a bomb threat over the phone at the Cedar Springs Mobile Home Estates.” Klein made the threat in response to fines that were issued to him for littering and other offenses, he said.

But Klein says he has battled weight and health issues all his life and today can’t function without pain killers and oxygen tanks.

“It’s no excuse for my behavior, but I’m suffering,” Klein said. “I’m dying in my own body.”

The Kent County Court system is growing impatient and a warrant was issued for Klein after his failure to appear.

As a result, “Social Security will stop my SSI disability from coming in,” he says.

Klein says he has documentation that he is wheelchair and bed bound. But prosecutors say Klein can get around with assistance and therefore he should be able to make it to court.

Klein says he isn’t running from his problems and that he has never tried to hide from police or evade an arrest.

“It doesn’t pay to do anything stupid,” he said.  “I’m not looking for anything.  I just want to get all this past me.”

Klein said he was told by his lawyer that his bomb threat case may come to a conclusion by Friday, August 1.