Hannibal, Mo., woman pleads guilty to bomb threats

A Hannibal, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court in Cape Girardeau on Monday to making threats against the Butler County Courthouse and Poplar Bluff schools to get out of appearing in a Butler County courtroom in January.

Morgan Cherie Kile, 27, pleaded guilty to three counts of making false bomb threats by telephone before U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel, according to assistant federal prosecutor Keith Sorrell.

Sippel, he said, set sentencing for Sept. 21. Kile faces a maximum punishment of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count.

With her plea, Kile admitted that on Jan. 20 she made three false bomb threats by phone: one to the Butler County circuit clerk's office and two to the Butler County Health Center.

Kile said there was a bomb in the Butler County Courthouse and a bomb in the Poplar Bluff High School.

Kile admitted she intended to close the courthouse by making the calls because she owed a fine and would not have to appear if the courthouse were closed.

The courthouse and the high school were temporarily evacuated and searched for bombs. No bomb was found.

Later investigation disclosed the cell phone used was Kile's.

The charges against Kile stem from an investigation by the Poplar Bluff Police Department and Butler County Sheriff's Department.

While investigating the alleged threats, officers served investigative subpoenas for telephone records, billing records and account information and determined Kile to be the suspect, police Detective Corey Mitchell earlier said.

The "real break" in the case came when officers "figured out the Columbia switch [cellular telephone tower] was not in Columbia, but was located in Palmyra, which is 11 miles south of Hannibal," Jessie Snow, Poplar Bluff school resource officer, said earlier.

Mitchell said officers also had determined the phone had been purchased at the Family Dollar in Hannibal.

"It was discovered that Kile had an active felony warrant out for her arrest through the Butler County Sheriff's Department," Mitchell said.

Mitchell said officers were able to track Kile's cellular telephone to the Economy Inn in Wichita, Kan., where authorities arrested her.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.