Lawyer warns of consequences for students making school threats

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Several students have been arrested and charged amid a rash of school threats in East Tennessee.

Knox County Sheriff’s Office reported on Tuesday that it was investigating an online threat that had been circulating and named numerous schools . That afternoon, KCSO released that a 7th grade student from West Valley Middle School had been arrested in connection to that threat.

By the end of the day, KCSO also released that an 8th-grade student from Carter Middle School had been arrested and accused of making a threat to shoot up the school. The sheriff’s office said its Juvenile Crimes Unit responded to seven threats, several of which are still under investigation.

Knoxville Police also released on Tuesday evening that an 11-year-old student had been charged with making a threat of mass violence at Vine Middle School.

On Wednesday, Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen told 6 News before 2 p.m. that 17 students have been arrested this year in connection to school threats, with six of those arrests happening on Tuesday.

Last week, two Halls High School students, a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old were also charged with making threats of mass violence. The 18-year-old was identified as Charles McCarter, and according to court records, he is expected to appear in court on Thursday, September 19. The threats prompted Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler to hold a press conference stating that there will be consequences for those who make threats against schools, and urging parents to talk with their children.

“This is not a joke anymore. It never was a joke, but I think some of our… we have a small percentage of individuals who are making these threats. And we’re not going to tolerate it. As I’ve said, we’re going to make sure that we’re going to punish you to the fullest extent,” said Spangler.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office also shared on Wednesday that recent threats to schools in the county on social media appeared to be “unfounded,” and investigators were working to assess any potential risks.

Earlier this year, a Tennessee law took effect increasing the penalty for threatening to commit an act of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony . That class of felony carries the potential sentence of up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.

In this week’s Ask Isaacs, 6 News’ Lori Tucker and Attorney Greg Isaacs discuss the legal consequences that those who make school threats, including children, can face.

If you have a legal question, send it to AskIsaacs@wate.com . To watch full episodes of Ask Isaacs, click here.

WATE’s Lori Tucker and Attorney Greg Isaacs answer your legal questions from the WATE Alert Desk on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. and on WATE Channel 6 at 5:30 p.m.

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