Juvenile sentenced in connection to Terre Haute North bomb hoax

Prosecutor Terry Modesitt talks about juvenile sentencing for school bomb hoax/Lucy Perry photo

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

Plasse at the scene/ ICN file photo

There wasn't really a bomb, nor was there an active shooter at Terre Haute North High School last April, but the caller shook up an entire community --- and that fear hasn't been forgotten.

Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said the case was challenging, but with effort from multiple agencies, the juvenile suspects were identified. Friday, the second one was sentenced in court.

"This case obviously was extensive. Everybody took this as a very serious situation; and it ended with a very serious resolution," Modesitt told reporters at the courthouse today.

A Maryland juvenile was sentenced to two years in the Department of Corrections, a $10,000 restitution to responding agencies and supervision until age 21. Modesitt said his office is pleased with the strict sentencing. The other suspect, a local juvenile, was taken into custody last May.

Terre Haute Police Chief John Plasse noted that the suspect's "one phone call" caused extreme fear in the community. He added that the suspect allegedly was involved in as many as 12 other hoax calls in several states across the country. 

But during the last bomb threat, the suspect tripped up during investigation.

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Modesitt/Lucy Perry photo

"He made an error that allowed us to track him down," Plasse said, recognizing tireless work by Detectives Travis Cheshire and Don Toney on the case.

Jake Overton, of the FBI, explained that the threat began with two juveniles whom had formed an online friendship. 

He said that the local emergency response has been univerally applauded.
 
Vigo County Sheriff's Office, Indiana State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Marshals, Indiana State University Police, West Terre Haute Police, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, Clay County Sheriff's Office, Parke County Sheriff's Office, Vermillion County Sheriff's Office, DNR Conservation Officers, Vigo County Street Department and Vigo County Emergency Management assisted Terre Haute Police Department at the scene.
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