A Los Angeles man is headed to prison after a bogus bomb threat cleared out the Gaston County Courthouse last fall and froze county business for hours. On Monday, he was sentenced to 12 to 24 months in the Department of Adult Corrections after pleading guilty to a false bomb report that emptied the building. Authorities say the Oct. 14, 2025, call triggered an hourslong evacuation and a bomb-squad sweep of the courthouse and nearby parking areas. According to court filings and local reports, the defendant admitted telling the clerk’s office that two vehicles in the courthouse lot contained bombs, which forced officials to clear the facility and delay county operations.
Darone Antonio Boone pleaded guilty on Monday to charges that included making a false bomb report, felony terrorism and obstructing justice. A judge then handed down the 12 to 24 month sentence, according to the Gaston Gazette. That plea capped months of investigation and pretrial hearings in Gaston County Superior Court.
How the call shut the courthouse
On Oct. 14, 2025, staff in the clerk’s office received a call claiming that two cars in the courthouse parking lot were rigged with explosives. The report led to an immediate evacuation of the courthouse complex and some county offices. Law enforcement, including the Gastonia Police Department bomb team and K-9 units, swept the building and surrounding lots before giving an all clear roughly three hours later, as reported by WBTV.
Charges and court records
Gaston Superior Court calendars show Boone listed in multiple felony cases tied to the October phone call. The public scheduling documents include entries for charges such as false bomb report and obstructing justice. Those court calendars, which outline case numbers and docket entries, track the hearings that led up to Boone’s June plea and sentencing.
Arrest in Los Angeles
According to local reporting and court materials, Boone was arrested on Oct. 22, 2025, in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Police Department’s fugitive division after investigators developed leads indicating he was out of state. The Gaston Gazette reports that Gaston County officials coordinated with Los Angeles officers on the arrest and the paperwork needed to transfer Boone.
Local disruption and resources
The October shutdown snarled court business and prompted county leaders to cancel a scheduled commission meeting while the search played out. Local outlets reported that bomb-unit vehicles and detection dogs were brought in as part of the response, underscoring how a single hoax call can consume public-safety resources and interrupt government work. Authorities say no explosive devices were found.
Legal note
Boone’s guilty plea resolves the state cases against him and carries the prison term imposed on June 29. The convictions are felonies and will stay on his criminal record, and the sentence is to be served in the state corrections system, according to reporting and court schedules.
