Two teens, accused of making and planting fake bombs at Henley Middle and Brownsville Elementary schools in Albemarle County, appeared in court Wednesday, May 9. But the judge closed the proceedings, and prosecutors have shared very little about what will happen next to the 13-year-old teens.
On March 27, three cylindrical packages were discovered around 7am, duct-taped to poles. A written threat was taped to the front entrance at Henley. About 65 officers, two state bomb teams, two remote-controlled robots and 17 bomb-sniffing dogs were brought to the schools, located on Rockfish Gap Turnpike in Crozet. Buses transporting students were turned away as students were diverted to other schools. Authorities eventually discovered the devices were nonoperational.
 Two 13-year-old students allegedly planted hoax explosive devices at Henley Middle and Brownsville Elementary schools, prompting a large-scale police investigation. The teens appeared in court earlier this month. |
Both of the 13-year-olds were charged with four felony counts of planting a hoax explosive device. One faces misdemeanor charges for threats that occurred a week earlier at Henley.
Attorney Richard A. Deloria, who represents one of the teens, issued a letter of apology from his client following the incident. Deloria said via telephone that he could not comment on the case.
Prosecutors also would not comment on the nature of May 9’s proceedings. Typically, a juvenile has an adjudication where he is found guilty or not guilty. A sentencing hearing follows if the child is found guilty. County Commonwealth’s Attorney James L. Camblos, III told The Daily Progress the teens will appear in court again in July. They could face juvenile detention until their 21st birthdays.
The secrecy surrounding these proceedings may stem from another Albemarle teen bomb plot in early 2006, in which four Albemarle students threatened via the Internet to blow up Western Albemarle and Albemarle High schools. The names of the two older boys, ages 15 and 16 at the time of the incident, were leaked to newspapers.
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