RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – A judge ruled on Thursday that a convicted felon accused of participating in detonating an explosive device that caused damage to property on a highway must proceed to trial for charges related to the incident. Jason Edward Hershey, 50, was taken into custody in 2021 after an extensive local and federal investigation into the explosion that occurred on Halloween 2020.
Following a preliminary hearing, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Kristi Hester determined that there was enough evidence to move forward with the trial for Hershey on charges of using a destructive device and vandalism. The arraignment is scheduled for May 23 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Hershey, who is currently free on his own recognizance, faces serious repercussions if found guilty.
Hershey’s co-defendant, 60-year-old Michael Henry Hardisty of Cathedral City, was previously sentenced to six years in state prison after admitting to the same charges Hershey is now facing. The explosive incident took place on the night of October 31, 2020, along Highway 111, between Peterson Road and Country Club Drive, as confirmed by sheriff’s investigators. Although the explosion resulted in debris strewn across six traffic lanes, fortunately, no motorists sustained injuries.
Sergeant Steve Davis mentioned that multiple law enforcement agencies, including sheriff’s detectives, FBI, and ATF, collaborated on the investigation to identify those responsible for the explosion. Both defendants were apprehended in May of 2021, but a specific motive behind the destructive act has yet to be disclosed. Court records reveal that Hershey has a history of convictions for various offenses such as receiving stolen property, burglary, and possession of controlled substances. The trial proceedings are expected to shed more light on the details surrounding this troubling incident.