Cuffs for man who allegedly threatened schools

The 26-year-old Moscow man who allegedly threatened to “shoot up” two Moscow schools last month was arrested and taken into custody Wednesday on allegations of another threat, this time against a Coeur d’Alene business.

According to court documents, Michael Dana Mastro Jr. allegedly telephoned a collection agency in Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday and made  threats against a representative at the center for continuing to call his girlfriend. Mastro was charged with “use of a telephone to annoy, terrify, threaten, intimidate, harass, or offend,” a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The alleged incident would be a violation of the conditions placed on Mastro’s misdemeanor charge of threatening violence on school grounds, which stemmed from a threat he allegedly made on YouTube against two Moscow schools in March.

The threat against the schools indicated the attack would take place Wednesday. The Moscow Police Department had said it was planning to monitor Mastro throughout the school day, but he was arrested early in the morning.

During Mastro’s arraignment Wednesday, Latah County 2nd District Court Judge John Judge set Mastro’s bond at $20,000. Judge said he typically does not set misdemeanor bonds at such high levels, but he said he considers Mastro to be a risk to the community because of the previous threat against schools.

According to court documents, Moscow Police Department Officer Joe Sieverding said he was contacted by an employee with a collection agency who claimed Mastro called them and said, “I am going to use my decoding abilities to find out where you are located, and I am going to come to your house.”

Moscow Police Chief James Fry said his department filed for a warrant to arrest Mastro after receiving the report from the collection agency.

Fry said the use of a telephone to harass is still a misdemeanor, and an arrest cannot typically be made unless it takes place within the presence of an officer, but Mastro’s alleged actions clearly showed an escalation, which is why the judge signed off on the warrant.

The court documents also allege Mastro made numerous threats to employees at eBay on Dec. 17, 2015.

“Mastro threatened to go to the eBay headquarters with guns and shoot them,” the report said.

Judge placed conditions on Mastro’s release, including that Mastro must have a mental health evaluation and review before his release, if or when he is able to make bond.

“I do not have any confidence that he is willing or able to control this tendency he has to threaten,” Judge said.

Mastro’s next hearing is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Katie Short can be reached at (208) 883-4633, or by email to kshort@dnews.com.