Prosecutors Drop Threat Charges Against Scientist
County prosecutors on Wednesday dropped criminal-threat charges against a former City of Hope research scientist, citing a lack of evidence.
Thomas Balon, 50, had been accused by a colleague of making death threats against three other scientists at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte. Prosecutors determined they could not prove that Balon intended for the alleged threats to be communicated to the other scientists.
Balon, who maintains he never made any threats, left City of Hope in November shortly after his arrest and is looking for a new research position, his attorney said.
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