16-year-old made six calls

By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Authorities from St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s department arrested a 16-year old boy Friday after a lengthy investigation into a series of phony bomb threats on East St. John High School.

Judge Mary Becnel said she would be taking the case under advisement at a continued custody hearing that was held on Tuesday. Becnel said she would probably make a ruling on the case later on Tuesday after L’Observateur’s deadline, but could not reveal any more information earlier on Tuesday since the case involved a juvenile.

Detective Thomas Young, head of the high crimes unit for the St. John Sheriff’s Office, said the boy, whose name was not released, was charged with communicating six false bomb threats to St. John 911 operators between November 26 and December 7. Young said all the calls originated from the grounds of the school, where the boy attends classes as a sophomore.

“Our detectives worked with the cell phone company to narrow the search for the phone,” said Young. “The service provider was able to triangulate the exact location of where the calls came from within a 250 yard radius. East St. John High School was included in that radius.”

Through a subpoena of phone records, Young said investigators were able to retrieve the phone’s IMEF number, a unique identification code that is used to transfer information to and from the phone. The phone was a Verizon Wireless LG model “pay as you go” phone, which was only set up to dial 911. Young said the sheriff’s office used classified equipment on loan from the FBI to determine the exact whereabouts of the phone in question, a residence in the Belle Pointe subdivision. Young said after a brief conversation with the accused teen, the boy confessed his involvement and handed the phone over to police.

According to Young, the child’s mother was shocked by what her son had been involved in. He said she had no idea her son was making the false threats.

After searching the residence, investigators found no sign of bomb making materials at the home. Young said the boy had no intention of doing any harm to the school and was just looking to get a few days off from classes, but the threats were not taken lightly.

“Everything has to be taken seriously,” said Young. “In the society we live in today, nothing can just be shrugged off.”

Young said the case was a difficult one to solve, because of all the new technology involved. He said that now that the Sheriff’s Office has quick access to the tools necessary to solve crimes of this nature, a repeat of the incident would be much easier to figure out.

According to Sheriff Wayne Jones, the charge of communicating false bomb threats gets the same treatment for adults as it does for juveniles. Jones said the boy faces a maximum of 10 to 15 years of prison time per count.

St. John Parish Public School Superintendent Michael Coburn applauded the diligent efforts of the sheriff’s office, and was pleased by how quickly investigators were able to make an arrest.

“We want our students and parents to know that we took all of the threats very seriously,” said Coburn. “This youngster is sure to find out how serious this situation really is, and we hope others learn a lesson from his mistake.”

Coburn said school board officials will hold a hearing next week, and that the student would be recommended for immediate expulsion from East St. John High School. Since the calls came from the school while the boy was in class, Coburn also said the board would consider completely rescinding cellular phone usage on school property.

“We have not acted on that subject yet, but it is something I will consider,” said Coburn. “It is a tough situation, and it is very sad that the good students have to suffer for the actions of one misguided individual.”