'Bombing' Post To Threat Charge For Penn State Student From Fair Haven

FAIR HAVEN, NJ — A Penn State University student from Fair Haven is facing a misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat, following a social media post he made about a "bombing," university police said.

Henry P. Hyduke, 20, is charged in connection with an Aug. 24 incident in which he posted on social media about a "bombing downtown," reports said. Penn State University is in State College, Pa.

He is charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor of "terroristic threats to cause serious public inconvenience," according to the Centre County, Pa., court docket.

The post reportedly read "ROTC bombing downtown state college tonight. Stay safe," WJAC first reported. Hyduke reportedly has no connection to the ROTC program and had no intentions to carry out a bombing and was apologetic, the report states. Rather, Hyduke had a "comedic intent," the WJAC report said.

The Centre Daily Times reported that police considered an evacuation, but ultimately chose not to because the threat was non-specific to an area.

The university in State College, Pennsylvania, made a statement regarding the incident:

"On Aug. 24, Penn State Police received a report of bomb threat made on Yik Yak against downtown State College. Police quickly identified the student who allegedly made the threat, made in-person contact and determined there was no legitimate threat to the community," said Lisa M. Powers, a university spokeswoman.

Powers confirmed Wednesday that Hyduke remains enrolled in the university.

Hyduke was released on his own recognizance and has a preliminary hearing on Sept. 28 at 8:30 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Donald M. Hahn, according to court papers filed in Centre County on Tuesday.

According to the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School website, Hyduke was a National Merit Commended Scholar, according to the Superintendent's Report of November 2020.

Patch Local Editor Justin Heinze contributed reporting to this story.