Judge Joe Kirby ordered the 17-year-old boy who has already served 11 days in detention to stay in detention, despite appeals for his release in a courtroom gallery filled with family, friends and supporters.
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It was the second time on Wednesday during hearings in Warren County Juvenile Court that Kirby made this ruling in hopes of gauging whether the boys were joking or could carry out threats. The other case involved a 14-year-old from the Little Miami Schools.
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“Until I have that, I cannot take the chance and release him,” Kirby said in declining to free the Lebanon boy.
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In the Lebanon case, the student is charged with inducing panic by texting, “THAT’S IT IM GONNA SHOOT UP A SCHOOL I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE” to friends on Feb. 15.
His lawyer, Ed Perry, said the school board had voted not to expel the boy, making it possible for him to return to school on Monday.
But Kirby said this anticipated the boy attending the alternative school, rather than regular classes, at the high school.
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In both cases Wednesday, no hearing was scheduled to reconsider detention until the polygraphs and — in the Little Miami case — a mental exam is completed.
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