Prank Case Arrest Made

Jake J. Brahm, a 20-year-old Wisconsin grocery store clerk who authorities say amused himself by posting prank Internet warnings of terrorist attacks against NFL stadiums was arrested Friday on federal charges that could bring five years behind bars.

Brahm was accused of writing that radioactive “dirty bombs” would be detonated this weekend at seven football stadiums. He admitted posting the same threat about 40 times on various websites between September and Wednesday, authorities said.

The Wauwatosa man surrendered to federal authorities and appeared in court in Milwaukee later in the day.

“These types of hoaxes scare innocent people, cost business resources and waste valuable homeland security resources. We cannot tolerate this Internet version of yelling fire in a crowded theater in the post-9/11 era,” said U.S. Atty. Christopher Christie in Newark, N.J., where Brahm was charged in a sealed complaint filed Thursday. One of the stadiums mentioned was Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Brahm was charged with making a terrorist threat over the Internet, which carries a maximum five-year prison sentence and $250,000 fine.

U.S. Magistrate Patricia Gorence released him without bail, citing his spotless record and strong community ties. She prohibited him from using the Internet or traveling outside Wisconsin and New Jersey, where his lawyer said he planned to make a court appearance.

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The NFL Players Assn. filed a grievance with the league Friday on behalf of Corey Simon, the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive tackle sidelined the rest of the season because of an undisclosed illness, the Indianapolis Star reported.

The team said two weeks ago that the illness was not football-related and that Simon would not be paid the rest of his 2006 salary, about $2 million.

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Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders and receiver Brandon Stokley will not play for the Colts on Sunday against the Washington Redskins. Sanders sat out the last three games after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Stokley continues to rehabilitate a sprained left knee that he injured during the Oct. 8 game against Tennessee.

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Quarterback Byron Leftwich did not practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was scheduled to have tests on his sore left ankle, the same one that caused him to sit out five games last season. He was added to the team’s injury report and listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at Houston.

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Seattle Seahawks receiver Bobby Engram had been waiting to learn whether a virus or an autoimmune disease was causing the thyroid condition that has him out indefinitely. Turns out, it’s both.

Coach Mike Holmgren said that test results showed a virus and Graves’ disease caused Engram’s hyperactive thyroid and, subsequently, an accelerated heartbeat and fatigue. Engram has lost about eight pounds while staying at home for the last two weeks.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Perry, who sat out the first five games of the season because of ankle and knee injuries, was activated and will play against the Carolina Panthers.