Manalapan teen pleads guilty to bomb threats

MANALAPAN — On Dec. 11 a 16-year-old boy from Manalapan entered pleas of guilty before state Superior Court Judge Eugene A. Iadanza, sitting in Freehold, to two counts of false public alarm, in the third degree.

The charges stemmed from two separate incidents at Manalapan High School in which the boy wrote specific bomb threats on the walls in a boys’ bathroom. These matters were investigated by the Manalapan Police Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and school officials.

According to a press release from the prosecutor, on Oct. 11 at about 12:30 p.m., a bomb threat was discovered written on the wall of a boys’ bathroom in Manalapan High School. This threat made specific reference to a bomb which was to explode on Oct. 13.

On the morning of Oct. 13 prior to the start of school, the building was cleared by law enforcement using canine units that were trained to detect explosives. Additional reasonable measures were employed to ensure that no explosives were brought into the school, according to the press release.

On Nov. 6 at about 10:36 a.m., another bomb threat written in the same bathroom was discovered. This threat was brought to the attention of school officials. An internal investigation by school officials resulted in the identification of the 16-year-old boy who had entered the bathroom earlier in the morning.

When the student was identified the investigation was turned over to the Manalapan Police Department. Following an investigation, charges were filed against the juvenile with respect to both incidents and he was transported to the Monmouth County Youth Detention Center, Freehold Township, according to the press release.

The student has been suspended by the school, pending an expulsion hearing before the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said, “By entering a guilty plea, the juvenile has taken responsibility for his actions. This juvenile’s conduct in twice posting false bomb threats presented potentially serious consequences to students, educators and the general public. Significant law enforcement resources were diverted to investigate bomb threats and safeguard the school community. Engaging in conduct of this nature puts many people at risk and will never be considered to be simply a childish prank. The Monmouth County law enforcement community will continue its efforts to aggressively investigate and prosecute cases of this nature.”

According to the prosecutor, the maximum sentence for each of the third degree charges is two years in the custody of the Juvenile Justice Commission. The juvenile had previously been released to the custody of his parents on house arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced before Iadanza on Feb. 16.

These matters were investigated by the Manalapan Police Department, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police and the sheriff’s departments from Monmouth, Ocean and Union counties.