14-year-old appears in court after allegedly making threat against Fairmont High School

KETTERING — A student accused of making a threat that closed Fairmont High School Tuesday made his first court appearance since being arrested by Kettering Police.

The 14-year-old boy, who News Center 7 is not naming since his case remains in juvenile court, appeared before a judge Wednesday afternoon. His lawyer said it’s the first time he’s been in legal trouble and described the teen as “an A and B student.”

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News Center 7 was in court Wednesday when a judge told the teen he was being charged with inducing panic, a second-degree felony, and that the maximum punishment he could face was anywhere from one to seven years in juvenile prison if convicted.

The teen’s lawyer asked the judge to have him released to his mom, but Judge Helen Wallace said she was concerned about public safety given the charge against him. Wallace ruled that the teen will remain locked up while he gets a mental health assessment.

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As News Center 7 reported Tuesday, police said the teen made a threat on social media against Fairmont High School Monday night because he didn’t want to go to class on Tuesday.

The teen is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday. The judge said she hopes to have his mental evaluation back by then to help make a decision on what will happen next in his case.

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