Joseph Otto allegedly called 911 eight times in a week around Warren County.
Eight times in less than a week, 18-year-old Joseph Otto allegedly called police to report a gunman at various locations around Warren County.
None of them were real.
Joseph Otto. (Courtesy photo)A 32-count indictment by a grand jury this week spells out where and when the White Township man allegedly summoned police for reports of an armed person:
- Dec. 7 to Super Wal-Mart in Pohatcong Township and QuickChek in Washington Township.
- Dec. 8 to Quick Chek in White Township and Skoogy's Deli in Belvidere.
- Dec. 10 to Phillipsburg High School in Lopatcong Township and Super Wal-Mart in Pohatcong.
- Twice on Dec. 12 to Super Wal-Mart in Pohatcong.
Pohatcong police Sgt. Scott Robb previously said that Otto told them why he made the calls: "He said it was boredom."
"He would sit in his vehicle, make the phone call, observe the police activity," Robb told lehighvalleylive.com in December. "At no time was there a man with a gun, nor did he want there to be a man with a gun. He did it so he had something to do."
Robb said authorities had to treat the calls as credible threats, potentially redirecting police resources away from those actually in need.
Authorities said a cellphone provider helped trace the calls back to Otto.
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In the indictment, Otto is charged with four counts for each incident -- three second-, third- and fourth-degree charges of creating a false public alarm and one count of making a false report to law enforcement.
The second-degree charges each carry a sentence of five to 10 years, the third-degree up to five years and fourth degree up to 18 months if convicted.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.