Former Mississippi teacher accused of threatening students and teachers

MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) — A former Mississippi teacher faces federal and state charges after allegedly posting threatening messages toward school officials on social media sites.

Daniel Christian Johnson, 36, of Meridian, faces federal charges of interstate communications with threat to kidnap or injure and willfully making a threat involving explosive materials, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi said in a statement Wednesday. Johnson also faces state charges of making terroristic threats to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.

It was not immediately known if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. An email to the U.S. attorney’s office seeking information about his representation was not immediately answered.

Lauderdale County School District Superintendent John-Mark Cain confirmed Johnson formerly taught at Clarkdale Attendance Center but resigned several years ago.

Prosecutors said investigators searched Johnson’s home last week and found what are alleged to be components of explosive devices or materials used for making explosives.

“Our school resource officers were made aware of a threat that was put out on social media earlier (last) week,” Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun said during a news conference Friday, The Meridian Star reported. “Based upon that threat, we began to investigate and look into the person who we’ve had contact with in the past in regards to the postings that were being made.”

The threatening messages “were addressed not toward a particular school but more toward personnel that worked at the school,” Calhoun said. He did not give details of the threats.

Based on the posts, the sheriff’s department began working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officials with the Meridian Police Department, which led to the search warrant being issued and Johnson’s arrest, Calhoun said.