16-year-old West Allis Central student faces two felonies for two bomb threats at the school
WEST ALLIS -- West Allis police said on Tuesday, March 15th the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office has issued two felony charges of "Bomb Scares" against a 16-year-old West Allis High School student in connection with two of the three bomb threats phoned into the school last week.
This student is charged in connection with bomb threats at the school on Monday, March 7th and Tuesday, March 8th.
The student is charged as a juvenile. Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern said this in a statement to FOX6 News, as it relates to why this student was not charged as an adult:
Juvenile cases are waived to adult court based primarily on the serious nature of the charge. Any prior record of the offender is also considered. A Bomb Scare is the lowest level felony under Wisconsin law and, under most circumstances, would never qualify to be waived into adult court.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke last week called for the teenage suspect to be charged as an adult, issuing this statement:
"Four times over the past week, my Explosive Ordnance Detection Unit was summoned to West Allis Central High School and Wauwatosa West High School for bomb threat calls made to the schools. This caused a huge disruption as classes had to be suspended, which resulted in lost learning time, and caused anxiety and mental stress on parents who are rightfully worried about the well-being of their kids. I heard school officials and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office in the media, talking about ‘how seriously’ they take this.
Now it’s time to show us and those who plan to engage in this behavior how serious we really are. More times than not, this rhetoric becomes no more than an exercise in saber-rattling with no severe consequences handed out, and thus no deterrent effect on these threats.
One way for the District Attorney’s Office to show how truly seriously they take this crime, would be to waive this 16-year-old into adult court, so that he will face serious consequences instead of the slap on the wrist that usually results when going through Children’s Court.
I heard a member of the District Attorney’s Office in an interview say that they take this seriously and this type of crime could result in prison time. The juvenile cannot be sentenced to prison, nor will he face the public humiliation of having his name released if he is adjudicated in Children’s Court.
When people actually start getting prison time for this crime, this behavior will cease. I will be watching this case closely to see how truly seriously the District Attorney’s Office deals with this, and I will keep the public posted."
West Allis Central parents don't all agree as to whether the punishment fits the crime in this case, but they do agree that these bomb threats need to stop.
"I'm starting to have very mixed feelings about it. It's very concerning and scary. I think they need to take it seriously because it's happening everywhere," Tracy Baier said.
"I didn't think he should be charged as an adult. That's on his record forever. I just hope it stops, and that nobody does it anymore," Penny Brouillard said.
Students evacuated from West Allis Central High School due to bomb threat
Police continue to actively investigate the third bomb threat.
The school was evacuated on Monday and Tuesday because of bomb threats. On each of those days, law enforcement officials were called in -- and students were moved to the field house on campus.
Students were eventually allowed back into the school building after it was determined there was no threat.
On Wednesday, students were evacuated to Mount Hope Lutheran Church on 86th and Becher, and later sent home.
Students evacuated from West Allis Central High School due to bomb threat
Classes were cancelled for Thursday, March 10th so that school officials, police and city leaders could meet to determine how to put an end to these bomb threats.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office's Bomb Unit was called out to the school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to assist with the investigation and sweep of the building. We're told the cost of that response ranges from $750 to $1,150 per incident -- not including the resupply of any materials used.
West Allis Central High School
A reward of $2,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the third bomb threat at West Allis Central on Wednesday, March 9th.
Anybody with information regarding the person or persons responsible is asked to call the West Allis Police Department at (414) 302-8000.
The reward consists of funds from the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, West Allis Crime Stoppers and a concerned, private citizen.