Juvenile arrested for making terrorist threats

By Staff
Melissa Cason
A Russellville youth is in juvenile courts custody after making threats of violence at school.
Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said a 15-year-old juvenile was arrested Thursday night and charged with making terroristic threats at Russellville High School.
"We recieved a call Thursday afternoon from school officials taht a student had made threats to blow up the school," Hargett said.
Hargett said after the inital investigation, a search warrant was executed at the student's home, and notes and notebooks with different types of drawings of a terrorist nature was found. The teen was then taken into custody.
RHS Principal Rex Mayfield said the administration learned of the threats after several students reported the behavior to Dr. Tim Guinn, assistant principal.
"We have good kids here and they approached Dr. Guinn out of concern for themselves and the student," Mayfield said.
Mayfield said the student will face disciplinary action in addition to the legal action being taken.
"This is a class three violation," Mayfield said. "Class three violations could lead to expulsion from the school."
Mayfield added that the action taken by the juvenile court system will also be a determining factor on what course of action the school will take.
"We rarely have a class three violation," Mayfield said about the school.
District Attorney Joey Rushing said making terroristic threats is a Class C felony, but felonies are handled differently in juvenile court.
"When an adult is charged with a felony, the penalty is usually jail time, but the juvenile justice system is geared toward rehabilitation," Rushing said.
Rushing added that a juvenile could get anything from jail time to boot camp to other rehabilitiation programs available to the court system. Even though the felony charge will sealed with his juvenile record, it will be available to the criminal court system should the juvenile find himself in trouble as an adult.
Hargett credits the work of the school and his officers for taking swift action in this situation.
"I think our schools are safe," Hargett said. "Our school resource officers are a great asset for us at the police department in case something was to transpire."
Russellville City Schools has three resource officers.