Juveniles Charged With Terrorist Threat Charges In Connection With Threat Letter
Two New Jersey High School Students are in serious legal hot water after police say they have traced a misspelled note threatening to blow up the school with several bombs, to the 17-year-olds. According to an article posted on NBC’s Web site, the note was a copycat attempt, after another one was mailed a day earlier to the mayor of a neighboring city, causing 12 north New Jersey schools to cancel classes for an entire day.
According to the news report, police would not divulge how they connected the note to the two students, but said that the note was signed by “Alcada,” referring to the radical Islamic terrorist group Al Qaida, which is believed to be responsible for the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the World trade Center and the Pentagon. Eventually the two students suspected of authoring the note were summoned to the principal’s office and arrested without incident, the report said.
The teens, whose names have not been released because they are juveniles, have been charged with terrorist threats and causing false public alarm. Both are serious criminal charges with grave consequences for the two young men. In fact, officials are thinking about slapping the students with a far more serious charge of threat of terrorism. And as with most cases involving older juveniles, they are also considering whether to charge the two teens as adults. That would mean that the case will be conducted publicly before a jury in adult court as opposed to behind closed doors and before a judge in juvenile court. Both teens are reportedly only a few months from turning 18.
Meanwhile, both teens have been suspended from high school and have electronic monitoring devices on them, the NBC report states. What these young people need right away is good legal representation by an experienced New Jersey juvenile crimes defense attorney. Let’s face it – these are kids. It was probably a prank. But these charges, especially if they are charged as adults, could carry extremely serious consequences including a lengthy prison term.
If your child has been accused of a crime, call an experienced New Jersey juvenile criminal defense attorney at Lependorf & Silverstein. We understand that you must be going through the most difficult time of your life. The law is complex and hard to comprehend when it comes to incidents involving juveniles. Let us help you through a tough and definitely what can be an emotional process. Call us immediately to discuss your case.
