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Virginia juvenile pleads guilty to several swatting incidents

Law enforcement responded to several false reports of bombs and shootings at Stafford County schools in 2023, detectives say.

STAFFORD, Va. — A juvenile in Stafford County has pleaded guilty to making several swatting calls at nearby schools. 

Between May and September of 2023, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office responded to several swatting incidents at Stafford High School, Brooke Point High School, Dixon Smith Middle School and Drew Middle School, according to the sheriff's office. Swatting is the practice of making a prank call to emergency services, like calling 911, to bring a large number of law enforcement officials to a certain place. 

The juvenile called in false reports of bombs and shootings that led to sizeable law enforcement responses, lockdowns and evacuations, according to the sheriff's office.

After detectives scoured phone records, it led to the arrest of the juvenile in September. The juvenile was eventually charged with aiding in terrorism and falsely summoning law enforcement. 

As part of a plea agreement in Stafford Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, the juvenile pled guilty to five counts of conspiring to make terroristic threats and two counts of falsely summoning law enforcement, according to the sheriff's office. 

RELATED: Threat at Montgomery Blair High School called not credible by police

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