EAST MACHIAS, Maine — Three students apparently involved in a hoax threat against Washington Academy on Sunday are being disciplined by the school but will not be charged.
“One of our students sent a message to one of his friends and in this message he made a threat towards Washington Academy,” states Head of School Judson McBrine in a message emailed to parents on Sunday. “The [Maine] State Police went to the home of the student and interviewed him along with two other students that were with him. The students stated that they put their friend up to sending the message as a joke.”
Lt. Rod Charette of the Maine State Police said Tuesday, “We responded to it. We addressed it appropriately. There are no charges pending.”
McBrine could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but Charette confirmed that the incident took place Sunday and that the school sent out a letter to parents.
A copy of the message obtained by the BDN states that the students involved were not being allowed on or near the school campus. It does not say how long they are barred from campus or whether they have been suspended or expelled.
“Even though this may have been done as a joke, we are taking the situation and the safety of our students and staff very seriously,” McBrine says in the letter, adding that a state police trooper was scheduled to be on campus for the start of the school day Monday.
Charette said a trooper was on site Monday and that there were no additional problems.