Students ages 18,17 facing Class 5 Felony charge after Liberty High School lockdown
BEDFORD, Va. (WSET) — ABC 13 has new details on a threat that locked down Liberty High School on Wednesday afternoon.
According to arrest warrants, Bryce Wilson Snead, 18, is one of the two students facing charges in the incident.
Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller confirmed to ABC13 that the second student charged is a 17-year-old.
RELATED: 2 students taken into custody, charges pending following lockdown at Liberty High School
The warrants revealed that Snead is facing a Class 5 Felony charge in the incident. Sheriff Miller told us the 17-year-old is facing the same charge.
"18.2-83, Code of Virginia: Communicate to Liberty High School staff/administrators information, knowing the same to be false, as to the existence of a peril of bombing, burning, destruction or damage to a place of assembly, building or structure, or a means of transportation. "
This means, Snead allegedly shared false information with the school in regard to a bombing, burning, or destruction of the building. The alleged threats resulted in a full-blown lockdown.
According to Nance, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office can not speak to the evidence or details of the case as the investigation is ongoing.
The Bedford Co. Sheriff's Office told us no one was hurt and that there was no gun found on the property.
ABC 13 asked Sheriff Miller on Thursday whether the situation was swatting.
"Right now that's part of our investigation, is to bring in the new law to see if it fits with this incident, and if it does, then they will be appropriately charged," Miller said.
Sheriff Miller also said what the threat actually was is still under investigation.
"We are piecing this puzzle back together again to make sure there is something we did not miss, and more charges may be coming forward," Miller said.
If you're not familiar with the term swatting-- it's when someone calls the police about a fake emergency and authorities respond. Governor Glenn Youngkin came to Lynchburg last week to sign Delegate Wendell Walker's (R-23rd District) swatting bill.
RELATED: 'Everybody was scared; I was scared:' Student reacts to afternoon lockdown at Liberty High
Under the new law, people can go to jail for up to a year for making swatting calls. On top of that, people breaking the new law also risk being fined.
ABC 13 also spoke with the Bedford County Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney, Stacey Stickney, about what consequences the students could face if convicted.
For the 18-year-old:
"The statutory punishment for a class 5 felony is 1-10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $2,500 fine," Stickney said.
For the 17-year-old though, she said the consequences would look different.
"The punishment there would be either imprisonment in what is the detention center, or it could look completely different in terms of probation and services," Stickney said.
