Warren County judge keeps teen accused of school threat in custody

The youth entered a denial to the alleged charge, which is the equivalent of a not guilty plea in adult court.

Judge Joseph Kirby ruled the 17-year-old must be detained to protect persons or property of others from immediate or threatened physical or emotional harm. Kirby set the youth’s next court appearance for 2:30 p.m. Oct. 24 for a pre-trial/further detention hearing. He also ordered a risk assessment on the youth with the court clinic.

According to the sworn complaint by Deputy Ronald Smith, on Wednesday, Oct. 12 the defendant was responsible for a handwritten note that stated “Shooting up the school on 10/12/22 1:30″ that was found hanging from a bathroom stall door in a male restroom inside of the Warren County Career Center.

The defendant is a senior at the school, and the note was placed and found during school hours. The note caused the school to go into a lockdown procedure and led to the response of 25 law enforcement officers to the property, according to the complaint.

Warren County Career Center Superintendent Joel King said as a district, “we will not tolerate threats of violence to our students, staff, or community.”