Man charged over threats to blow up Indiana shopping center, schools

A 26-year-old man from Bakersfield, California, has been charged with making online threats to blow up two Indiana high schools and an Indianapolis-area shopping center.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Indianapolis said Monday that Buster Hernandez also is accused of making cyber threats to juvenile females and producing child pornography.

Hernandez appeared Friday in a California courtroom and is expected to be transported to Indianapolis to face charges.

Authorities say a Plainfield girl was threatened via Facebook in December 2015 after she refused to send sexually explicit photos of herself over the internet. The threats prompted the Dec. 19, 2015, closings of Plainfield and Danville high schools and the Shops at Perry Crossing in Plainfield.

Earlier that week, threatening emails were sent to other school districts across the country. Schools in Los Angeles were closed for a day.

Hernandez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment if convicted on all counts.