BUCYRUS — Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew E. Crall will be pressing charges on two of the four bomb threats that have recently made local headlines.
“Two incidents have resulted in the filing of Inducing Panic charges in Crawford County Juvenile Court with children being arrested and placed into juvenile detention,” Crall said. “My office has, with the input of law enforcement, decided that charges would not be appropriate in one of the cases. One matter remains under investigation.”
According to the Ohio Revised Code, Inducing Panic is a felony of the second degree punishable by up to eight years in prison if a crime is committed by an adult.
“None of the alleged offenses in Crawford County were committed by adults or by juveniles capable of being tried as adults,” Crall explained. “The accused are children ages 9, 11, 12 and 14.”
Crall praised the schools involved for working with law enforcement to determine what has occurred in these cases.
“Several of the students have received lengthy suspensions or have been expelled from school,” he said.
Richland Source reported that on Feb. 16, Pioneer Career and Tech Center reported a bomb threat; on Feb. 21, Crestline Schools closed after a bomb threat was reported; on Jan. 23, two Galion Middle School threats were discovered; on Jan. 24, Bucyrus had a bomb threat.
Crall said he is filing charges for Bucyrus’ and Crestline’s threats. He is looking in to one of the Galion Middle School threats.
Crall added that because of the ages of the children being charged, all potential cases would be adjudicated in the juvenile judicial system.
“In order to be found criminally liable, a person must be competent to understand the judicial process,” he said. “The younger the child the more likely the child is to be found incompetent. Needless to say, the juvenile justice system is complicated.”
Crall added that with the threats and the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, he agreed parents are right to be concern about the wellbeing of their children during school hours.
“Several area schools have had lengthy discussions with their students about the seriousness making these types of threats,” he said. “I urge all parents, including myself, to have tough discussions with our children. A parent has the greatest ability to affect change with our children.”
