Making Terroristic Threat Charges Possible for Juvenile Bomb Note
On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Weber County Sheriff’s deputies evacuated more than 900 students from a charter school in West Haven after a student discovered a note with a possible terroristic threat. No threats were found at the school, and the student who allegedly wrote the note was taken into custody.
Maybe Try a “Keep Out” Sign Next Time
According a report in KSL News, school administrators contacted the Weber County Sheriff’s office on Wednesday afternoon after receiving a note that a student at Quest Academy found in the halls. The note stated that a bomb had been placed in a specified locker and was set to detonate.
More than 900 students were evacuated from the school to an LDS meetinghouse near the school while bomb technicians came in and checked the locker. After finding nothing suspicious, the technicians proceeded to sweep the entire school with bomb-sniffing dogs. Weber County Sheriff’s Lt. Lane Findlay said they take potential terroristic threats such as this one very seriously.
“Even thought most of them pan out to be a hoax or a prank, we have to be very diligent in making sure that we’ve investigated and that safety is a priority,” Findlay said.
A 12-year-old student was identified as being the one who wrote the note. The first clue was most likely the fact that the specified locker belonged to the boy in question. The boy claimed to police that he didn’t intend the note to be a terroristic threat, but rather a joke to people who might visit his locker.
Findlay said he didn’t believe that the boy intended to carry out any type of violent action, but he also stressed the importance of not joking about such things.
“[I]t’s certainly taxing on everyone as far as the manpower issues and making sure the evacuation is done safely,” he said.
Making a Terroristic Threat a Felony for Adults
According to Utah Criminal Code 76-5-107.3, in this case, a person would be guilty of making a terroristic threat if the person “threatens to commit any offense involving bodily injury, death, or substantial property damage, and threatens the use of a weapon of mass destruction… or threatens the use of a hoax weapon of mass destruction.”
The code goes on to state: “It is not a defense under this section that the person did not attempt to carry out or was incapable of carrying out the threat.” When committed by an adult, making a terroristic threat is a second degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, in addition to reimbursement to “any federal, state, or local unit of government, or any private business, organization, individual, or entity for all expenses and losses incurred in responding to the violation, unless the court states on the record the reasons why the reimbursement would be inappropriate.”
Obviously a 12-year-old isn’t going to be charged with a felony and put in prison, but it is still a very serious charge for a juvenile. If your child has been charged with making a terroristic threat—or any other charges—be sure to contact an experienced and sympathetic juvenile defense attorney who knows that sometimes boys will be boys and who will look out for the best interests of your child.
