Charges reduced for teen who made a threat

PHIL CAMPBELL — The charges against a 15-year-old male who made a bomb threat targeting the high school have been reduced from making a terrorist threat to harassing communications.

Franklin County Sheriff ’s Office Investigator Sgt. Kyle Palmer said the harassing communications charge is a Class C misdemeanor.

“In Juvenile Court, obviously, the child is the priority,” said Chief Officer Jacob Green of the Franklin County Juvenile Probation Office. “They will have the same consequence regardless of charge, but we don’t want to interfere with a child’s future going forward.

“It doesn’t make it less severe, we’re not giving special handouts to anyone. We’re just helping a child while they agree to what we offer.”

The juvenile male was arrested Sept. 3 after leaving a voice message on the school’s answering machine with a computergenerated voice indicating there could be a bomb located within the school building.

Law enforcement was contacted, the school was evacuated and multiple law enforcement agencies were called to the scene, including the Florence Police Bomb Squad.

The campus was swept for over an hour before it was declared clear.

After law enforcement officials traced the call, the juvenile was located, questioned and arrested.

Now, the juvenile is facing sentencing for the misdemeanor charge accepted through a plea deal.

“In juvenile court, the first thing they do is come in for a plea offer,” Green said. “We tell them what we want, and if they plea, they won’t have to go to trial.

“If they plead not guilty and go to trial, that lesser charge is off the table.”

Green said the sentence for the juvenile could include a number of options, such as being on probation for six months to a year; placement in a juvenile detention home; 45 days minimum at a boys home; and participation in the Special Programming for Achievement Network (SPAN), which helps juveniles keep up with schoolwork during the course of the sentence.

Palmer said he does not believe the juvenile will be back in a Franklin County School this school year, but could return during the 2026-27 year.

Super intendent Greg Hamilton said the board of education will follow policy and address the issue if and when it comes up.

He said he had no other comment on the matter.

The school system’s student handbook includes making a bomb threat as a Class III offense, which is listed as one of the most serious offenses.

Per the handbook, Class III offenses can result in “disciplinary actions or suspension and recommendation for expulsion … [and] pending final determination of the matter by the board, the student will remain suspended from school.”

Other disciplinary measures could be approved by Hamilton, according to the handbook’s Class III sanctions.