Paul Rice Sr. entered the innocent pleas Monday in Rutland Superior Court to misdemeanor offenses of causing false alarm and disturbing the peace by phone.
He was released on conditions, including that he not go the Rutland hospital unless he has a “legitimate medical reason.”
The medical center in Rutland was put on lockdown late Friday morning for about 40 minutes after receiving a threatening phone call, according to police and hospital officials.
The caller was upset because someone he knew was in the hospital’s emergency department, a police affidavit stated. The caller threatened to come and “shoot up” the hospital because he believed that the patient he knew was being held “hostage” there, according to the affidavit.
Rice, who police described as disabled, was charged after a short investigation at his home on Hopkins Street in Rutland with making the threatening call. Police said he had no vehicle and did not have firearms.
If convicted of the charges, Rice faces up to two years and three months in prison.
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