Man Who Caused Christmas Eve Bomb Scare Pleads Guilty In Muni Court

The man who is accused of pleaded guilty to a pair of misdemeanors.

Kevin Striley, 43, pleaded guilty to obstructing official business and attempting to induce panic Dec. 29 in .

Striley was initially charged with a felony county of inducing panic but it was reduced as part of a plea deal. Additionally, a littering charge was dismissed.

Judge John Trebets did not sentence Striley last Thursday. Instead, he ordered a presentence report be done first. Striley's sentencing hearing has not been scheduled yet.

Striley could be released on probation or receive up to 270 days in jail when he is sentenced.

In the meantime, the judge also reduced Striley's bond from $102,000 to $10,000.

Striley was arrested after his suitcase triggered a 3-hour long bomb scare outside of Barnes & Noble on Christmas Eve morning.

Striley used to live in Mason, OH, but he is now homeless, Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien said at the time of Striley's arrest.

He left his suitcase outside of the bookstore Friday night. When asked why he left the suitcase, he told police, "(I) was tired of carrying it," Zbiegien said.

A passerby saw the suitcase, thought it was suspicious and called the police.

When police asked Striley what was inside of the suitcase, he refused to tell them. Consequently, police called in the Lake County Bomb Squad in case the suitcase contained explosives.

For three hours, authorities cordoned the area around Barnes & Noble and while they assessed the situation. The bomb squad ultimately decided to have its bomb robot fire two shotgun shells into the suitcase while everyone was a safe distance away from it.

After ascertaining it wasn't a bomb, authorities found the suitcase only contained personal affects, including a silk tie, a few rare coins, a Kodak camera and some other trinkets.