Boston Bombing Suspect Charged, Man Behind East Hampton School Bomb Hoax Pleads Guilty

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was charged yesterday with using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, and with malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device resulting in death. 

As an American citizen, Tsarnaev will be tried in a federal court and not by a military tribunal as an enemy combatant. CNN, citing law enforcement sources,  reported that Dzhokhar said his older brother Tamerlan planned last week's bombing at the Boston Marathon and that no international terrorist groups were involved.  

Man, 21, Pleads Guilty In East Hampton School Bomb Threat 

Local law enforcement authorities, meanwhile, are taking any kind of bomb threat very seriously. Yesterday, Connecticut State's Attorney David B. Fein  announced that Sean Doran, 21, of East Hampton, pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of intentionally conveying false or misleading information and a hoax by leaving a fake bomb device at the front doors of East Hampton Middle School on January 12, 2013.

“This type of crime threatens the sense of security that children and teachers are entitled to enjoy at their schools,” stated U.S. Attorney Fein.  “Hoax crimes and threats to schools will be thoroughly investigated by our law enforcement partners and prosecuted by this office to the fullest extent permitted by law.”

“Public safety is critical in any civilized society,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Mertz. “To that end, the FBI will investigate and bring to justice those who threaten the sanctity of public life. The FBI wants to assure the citizens of the State of Connecticut and the nation, that together with our federal, state and local partners, we are truly committed to identifying threats to public safety, as that is our first obligation.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 8:00 a.m. on January 12, 2013, custodians at the East Hampton Middle School arrived to find a device leaning against the front doors of the school. The device was a rectangular box, approximately 12 inches by eight inches by four inches in size, taped together with orange and red duct tape, and a white egg timer on top. 

School employees contacted the East Hampton Police Department, which subsequently notified the Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad. The Bomb Squad arrived on the scene and determined that the device did not contain any explosives.

A review of the East Hampton Middle School’s surveillance video revealed that Doran placed the fake bomb at the doors of the school at approximately 1:47 a.m. that day.

Chief Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2013, at which time Doran faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

The second half of this story comes from a press release issued by Connecticut State Attorney David B. Fein.