Juveniles remain in detention after school threats

Warren County officials have 9 cases from threats at local schools.

A 12-year-old Warren County girl, accused of being involved in the latest of nine cases in a series of threats against local schools, was ordered to remain in juvenile detention Thursday.

Judge Joe Kirby ordered the girl be held, despite pleas for her release, indicating a 10th case was expected to be filed later from the Little Miami Schools.

School officials said they were unaware of any threats or pending charges, and Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell said there was no new threat case from the Little Miami district.

Already in school districts in Springboro, Lebanon and Waynesville, students have been charged in connection with recent threats against their school. Nothing dangerous has been found or anyone injured, but the threats have disrupted school, law enforcement and the communities.

Also Thursday, Kirby ordered the continued detention of a 14-year-old boy accused of inducing panic by making a bomb threat at Lebanon High School on May 4. Kirby ruled the boy could not be released, after he reviewed a risk assessment.

During Thursday’s hearing for the girl, Kirby said he needed the results of a risk assessment before deciding whether to release the girl pending a final decision in the case.

The girl was charged with making false alarms Wednesday by texting a bomb threat to a classmate at Berry Intermediate School in Lebanon.

Her lawyer, Hal Arenstein, said she should be released to her parents, noting she had no juvenile record and was an award-winning student.

“She’s not known to the court. She’s just 12 years of age. She’s an excellent student,” Arenstein said. “This is clearly out of left field for these folks.”

Kirby noted his responsibility to the community and concern over the continuing trend. The students face up to 90 days in detention, as well as suspension with a recommendation for expulsion.

“These are coming out of left field every day,” Kirby said. “My objective is to get them to stop.”

The girl and her parents both cried during the hearing. The parents were forced to settle for tearful statements across a transom sepaating them, before their daughter was taken back to the detention center.

She is to return for another hearing next Thursday. The boy who appeared in court after her is scheduled to return to court on May 23.

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