School districts are facing a wave of social media threats. What are the consequences of making one?

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — Rumors and threats of violence at schools have been circulating online and amongst students this week.

The trend is impacting school districts across the Lowcountry and throughout the U.S., and a criminal defense attorney is now explaining the potential consequences.

Earlier this week, a 12-year-old was charged with making online threats at Berkeley Middle School. Administrators at Bishop England also decided not to allow fans at Friday’s varsity football game amid “concerns posted on social media across the state and country containing threats of violence.”

Anyone who makes a threat on social media, through a text message, or through an email could face local, state, and/or federal charges.

“We work closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action,” an official with the FBI said to News 2 in a statement.

According to the FBI, a person who makes a threat of violence can face up to five years in federal prison. If charged in South Carolina, they could also face a fine or jail time on the state level.

However, if a juvenile makes the threat, the case is handled differently.

Criminal defense attorney, Michael Sahn, said in most cases when a juvenile is charged with a criminal offense in South Carolina it is handled in family court. This is more of a rehabilitative option for juveniles, especially if they are being charged for the first time.

“It’s more of trying to rehabilitate this offender and make sure they know that they can’t do this again,” said Sahn. “If they start coming back multiple times to family court, that’s when the sanctions can get a little more severe. But once they turn 18 it’s a different ball game in adult court.”

The solicitor’s office has juvenile prosecutors who are assigned to the family court cases, and often judges will opt for other penalties besides incarceration.

“There is lots of tools that the prosecutors and judges have in family court to rehabilitate the offender rather than throw the book at them and just incarcerate them and throw away the key,” Sahn explained. “There is juvenile arbitration, there is probationary terms where they do community service in the area, they can write essays about what they learned from the incident.”

If the person charged for making a threat is 18 or older, the charges would be handled in criminal court which could result in jail time.

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