Holliston man allegedly threatened to blow up L.A. airport
By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff
A Holliston man was arrested today for allegedly threatening to blow up a Los Angeles airport in a handwritten letter that mentioned the actress Jodie Foster, and federal prosecutors said it was nearly identical to about 100 other letters mailed to people in the Los Angeles area since September.
Michael Smegal, 42, was arrested at an undisclosed location in Massachusetts and charged with mailing a bomb threat, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, said Christina DiIorio-Sterling, a spokeswoman for US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan.
The case immediately evoked memories of the notorious episode more than two decades ago when Foster was stalked by John Hinckley Jr. The deranged fan attempted to assassinate President Reagan in 1981 and claimed his motive was to impress Foster.
Smegal's lawyer from the federal public defender's office, Oscar Cruz Jr., could not be reached for comment. No one returned a phone message left on an answering machine at Smegal's home yesterday.
