Rancho Mirage, California – A judge has ruled that a convicted felon will stand trial for his alleged involvement in igniting an explosive device that caused damage on a highway in Rancho Mirage. Jason Edward Hershey, 50, was taken into custody in 2021 following an extensive investigation into the Halloween 2020 explosion.
During a preliminary hearing, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Kristi Hester determined that there was enough evidence to proceed with the trial on charges of using a destructive device and vandalism. Hershey’s arraignment is scheduled for May 23 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. The defendant is currently out on his own recognizance.
Hershey’s co-defendant, Michael Henry Hardisty, 60, from Cathedral City, was sentenced to six years in state prison back in August 2022 after admitting to the same charges that Hershey is now facing.
The explosion took place on the night of October 31, 2020, along Highway 111, where debris was scattered across six traffic lanes, fortunately without any injuries to motorists. The investigation involved sheriff’s detectives, FBI agents, and officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
Both defendants were apprehended in May 2021, with no disclosed motive behind the explosion. Court records reveal Hershey’s prior convictions for offenses like receiving stolen property, burglary, and possession of controlled substances.
As the legal proceedings continue, the community awaits further developments in this case that resulted in significant property damage and shook the residents of Rancho Mirage. The upcoming trial will shed more light on the events surrounding this destructive incident that occurred on a Halloween night.