The boy, 17, of Turtlecreek Twp. was accused of texting: “THAT’S IT IM GONNA SHOOT UP A SCHOOL I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE” to friends on Feb. 15.
The day before, 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglass School were fatal victims of a shooting by a former student.
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In announcing the Feb. 15 case — one of more than 10 school threat cases filed at Warren County schools since the deadly shooting — Lebanon Superintendent Todd Yohey talked about the district’s zero-tolerance policy.
“Students need to realize that there is no such thing anymore as an empty threat; no jokes, no kidding around, no ‘I didn’t mean it,’” Yohey said. “The people who view your posts or overhear you make threats are going to report you. In Warren County, that likely means felony charges. Parents need to have serious conversations with their children about the consequences of making threats in today’s society. It is sad but schools have no choice in considering every threat is real.”
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Judge Joe Kirby ordered the boy, who had passed a polygraph convincing the judge the boy was not serious in his threat, to write a letter of apology, have no access to weapons, perform 25 hours of community service and pay $115 in fines and court costs. He also was put on probation.
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The boy served 19 days in detention, before his release, while the case was pending and before he passed a polygraph. The remainder of a 45-day detention was suspended.
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