KeNen Michael-Damian Borths, 25, Charlevoix, pleaded guilty this morning in the 33^rd Circuit Court to sending or delivering an explosive device causing property damage with the intent to frighten, terrorize, intimidate, threaten, harass, injure or kill.

That offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Borths also pleaded to lying to a police officer in the investigation of a violent crime, a four-year felony.

He will be sentenced on October 8.

According to a police affidavit in the case, on August 8, 2020, at approximately 11:30 p.m., City of Charlevoix police responded to a report of a possible gas leak and explosion on May Street in Charlevoix.

According to the victims, an explosive device was thrown into their home. Police discovered a “Molotov cocktail” consisting of a broken rum bottle with a partially burned towel inside and a strong smell of gasoline in the house.

The investigation turned to Borths when a witness indicated that Borths was upset with the adult son of the May Street home’s residents. Later another witness admitted that he had been with Borths on August 8 and that Borths had purchased a bottle of rum, later smelled of gas and that he had dropped Borths off near the scene of the crime.

Initially Borths denied any involvement, but in a later interview admitted that he had poured rum out of a bottle, poured gasoline into it and put a towel in it and lit the towel on fire. Borths said he had put out the fire before throwing the bottle through the May Street residence.

Borths was initially charged with two counts of assault with intent to murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Trial was scheduled to begin today.

“I want to thank law enforcement for their work on this case,” Mary Farrell, Charlevoix County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney said. “The City of Charlevoix Police Department and the Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office conducted an excellent investigation and were assisted by the Michigan State Police, the FBI and the Secret Service.”