Alec D. Smith, 26, a former Columbus resident whom court records state now lives in Marion, pleaded guilty in October to a felony count of unlawfully possessing a hoax weapon of mass destruction and a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon.
The sentence was imposed by Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Sheryl Munson, who said Smith faces 18 months in prison if he violates probation. She placed him on the probation department s mental-health caseload.
Columbus police found the device in a vehicle being driven by Smith after a traffic stop around 2:30 a.m. April 24 at Front and Gay streets.
The discovery prompted the closing of surrounding streets in the area of Columbus Division of Police headquarters and City Hall while the Columbus Fire Division s bomb squad and its fire- and explosive-investigations unit responded. The streets remained closed until 7 a.m.