NEWS

Teens deny role in threats to Watkins

Bethany Bruner
Reporter

NEWARK – Two teens accused of sending two different bomb threats to Watkins Memorial High School this week denied their involvement in a Licking County courtroom Friday.

The teens, ages 16 and 15, were arrested Thursday after the second threat was received by the school.

The 16-year-old is charged with one juvenile equivalent count of inducing panic at a school, a second-degree felony. The 15-year-old faces two counts of the same offense.

Both teens entered deny pleas through their attorneys during hearings before Licking County Juvenile Court Judge Robert Hoover.

The deny pleas are standard legal procedure to allow attorneys a chance to review the discovery files in the case and talk with their clients.

PREVIOUSLY:Two arrested in connection with Watkins bomb threats.

Both teens reportedly confessed their involvement to Licking County Sheriff's Office deputies.

Hoover ordered both teens to be held in the Multi-County Juvenile Detention Facility until further hearings. The charges carry a possible sentence of a year of detention in the Department of Youth Services up until the teens' 21st birthdays.

The charges stem from two threats sent to Watkins Memorial High School earlier this week. The first threat was sent Tuesday and resulted in the high school being evacuated and students being sent home early. Authorities from the Licking County Sheriff's Office and several other agencies responded to search the school and parking lot for explosive devices. None were found.

The second threat was sent Thursday and prompted a lockdown at the high school while authorities searched the school and grounds.

The cases against the teens are scheduled for a preliminary conference in mid-June.