News
Bomb Threat Could Mean Serious Consequences For Athens Student
By: Joe Higgins | Athens Messenger
Posted on:
A 16-year-old female student at Athens High School has been charged in Athens County Juvenile Court with the equivalent of a second-degree felony for her alleged role in a bomb threat at the school last month.
According to County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn, the student is charged with inducing panic and he said the potential penalty could be detention by the Department of Youth Services until she is 21 years old.
“I’m sure this young child thought this was no big deal, but in the world we live in today this causes panic among students, staff and parents and causes a waste of resources for law enforcement,” said Blackburn. “This is a serious offense with serious consequences.”
School officials were notified on Monday, April 21, by a student that two notes were found in the girls bathroom indicating there was a bomb in the school.
Blackburn said Athens County 911 dispatcher notes report that the threat stated the bomb would detonate at 1:30 p.m. and that the school needed to be evacuated or “there would be death.”
Students were evacuated to the Scott Riggs & Family Stadium until 10:30 a.m.
Members of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and The Plains Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and searched the building and did not find a bomb.
Detectives and school officials reviewed surveillance cameras and identified the girl who told officials of the note as a suspect in making the threat. She allegedly told law enforcement the threat was a prank.