Teen accused of making threats against 20 schools, White House

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A juvenile judge says he is detaining an eighth-grader accused of making threats against local schools until he can make sure the child has no access to computers.

Prosecutors say the child has used computers to call in threats to more than 20 schools, Hillary Clinton, the Miami-Dade airport and even the White House.

“Threatening the White House, making threats to the church where the incident happened in Charleston,” said Prosecutor Chris Montgomery.

The judge said the child is so intelligent he has to find a way to keep the boy from harming the public.

“You know, son, you are a genius,” Clayton County Juvenile Court Judge Steven Teske told the child Monday.

Teske told the teen there's a dangerous side to his incredible mind.

“Your genius can also create such havoc that people could die,” he said.

Prosecutors say the FBI, the Secret Service and Homeland Security are investigating bomb threats allegedly made by the eighth-grader.

Channel 2's Tom Jones was at Jonesboro Middle School earlier this month, when officers say the boy called his school saying there was an active shooter on campus. It was a prank.

The teen was barred from using the school's computers.

Police say three days later, he used a substitute’s computer to hack into the computer lab, a lab he had hacked into before.

“Previously, he put a porn video on that the instructor was unable to get turned off,” said Clayton County School Police Officer D.L. Hiers.

Judge Teske told the child he is addicted, like someone on drugs.

“In your case instead of drugs it seems like it's electronics. No matter how many times you’re caught, you haven’t stopped,” Teske told the teen.

Teske said that’s why he's keeping the teen in juvenile detention for now.

“I’ve got to figure out what help you need,” Teske said.

The judge told the student someone could get hurt responding to one of his pranks. The boy said he understood.

His grandmother wants him home, but the judge said that will only happen when he thinks the teen can't get his hands on any electronic devices.

WSBTV