The Pacific Union College student accused of threatening to blow up a building on campus will answer to a felony charge of making criminal threats.

On Friday Jonathan Baldwin, 19, appeared before Napa County Superior Court Judge Mark Boessenecker for his preliminary hearing.

Baldwin, a freshman, was arrested March 4, after the threat was reported to PUC administrators by a student who overheard it. Baldwin told investigators that he was only joking and meant no harm to anyone.

His attorney, Jim Jones of Napa, argued although he totally agreed such a threat needed to be reported and investigated, Baldwin meant no harm and thought he was making a joke to another student in a private conversation.

However, Napa County Deputy District Attorney Crystal Howard didn’t see it that way.

“You can’t go around making jokes about something like this without people taking what you are saying seriously,” Howard said. “This is 2008, with the tragedies that have happened on school campuses, you know such a threat will be conveyed to authorities.”

Baldwin works as a janitor at the college. On the day the threat was made, he and Rhodalyn Del Campo, a co-worker and student, had just clocked out from work and were headed to the cafeteria.

Del Campo testified she and Baldwin were taking about having to clean Irwin Hall.

“We were taking about our frustration about having to clean it all the time. Jonathan said, ‘Maybe I should blow it up.’ It was a joke,” Del Campo said. “I said you better be careful saying things like that. You would be one of the first persons they suspect.”

Howard asked Del Campo to explain why he would be a suspect.

“You know, by his stereotype,” Del Campo answered.

During the hearing, testimony was heard that Baldwin dressed in black, wore a long black trench coat and had downloaded material on his computer describing how to make explosive devices. He also owned a Bokken, a wooden practice Samurai sword.

The person who overheard the threats also testified.

PUC student Yadira Visoso, who works with Baldwin and Del Campo, said she was walking behind them when she overheard their conversation.

“I overheard him say, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I bombed the school. And if it happened, they would know it was me.’ He said it in a joking way.” Visoso said. “It sounded like he was just fooling around, but it worried me. With everything that has happened at schools, you just don’t joke about something like that.”

Visoso said she kept the information to herself. “I didn’t want to get involved,” she said.

But, she testified, the incident bothered her enough that she told another student, who reported it to school staff.

Howard asked Visoso if she was afraid of Baldwin.

“No, I’m not afraid of him, just the fact that something like this could happen,” she answered.

However, the three sheriff’s investigators who interviewed Visoso said she was visibly upset, crying and in fear of retaliation from Baldwin.

PUC Director of Public Safety Matthew Garcia said school officials took the matter very seriously.

“We were very concerned for the safety of the students and the staff,” he said, adding the school has about 1,300 students and 300 facility and staff.

School officials notified the sheriff’s department, which took over the investigation.

They searched his dorm room and found the Bokken. A search of Baldwin’s computer revealed his had downloaded “The Anarchist Cookbook,” which contains recipes for manufacturing explosives. The book was written in 1971 by William Powell to protest the Vietnam War.

They found “The CIA Book of Dirty Tricks,” which has instructions on how to make booby traps and other such devices. Also located in his room was a book, “Art of War,” which details battle tactics.

During the trial, Howell mentioned several times that Baldwin had access to cleaning supplies and chemicals.

Sheriff’s Deputy John Hallman testified Baldwin told him he had access to the materials and could create explosives and mustard gas.

Jones asked Hallman if he believed Baldwin meant his remarks as a threat.

“I absolutely believe he was an absolute threat and could have carried it out,” Hallman said.

In an unusual move, Jones put Baldwin on the witness stand.

“Why did you download that material on your computer?” Jones asked.

“Curiosity. I have other things on my computer such as the Klingon Version of the Bible, stuff about hypnosis and psychology,” Baldwin replied. “I never used any of the information for making anything dangerous.”

When asked what he said to Del Campo, Baldwin replied, “I made a joke that if I blew up Irwin Hall we wouldn’t have to clean it.”

“Did you discuss any methods of doing this?”

“Never. Looking back, it was a terrible joke. I never had any intention of harming anyone.”

Howard took her turn in drilling Baldwin.

“Are you the kind of person that gets upset ... do you hold your anger?” she asked.

“Yeah I gripe and get over.”

“Are you aware that some of the school shootings have been blamed on the Trenchcoat Mafia? Are you aware after the school shootings at Virginia Tech, Illinois and Columbine, that anyone overhearing a statement like you made would report it?”

“I am now, but at the time it was only a joke,” Baldwin replied.

In closing, Jones stressed to court that Baldwin had no prior criminal record and had a huge support group.

He presented Boessenecker with more than 25 letters of recommendation written in support of Baldwin.

Jones also asked Boessenecker to reduce Baldwin’s $500,000 bail, which is lowered to $150,000.

Baldwin is set to be arraigned on March 25.