GUILDERLAND—The Guilderland Police Department arrested and charged two teens Tuesday night (Nov. 29) for a threat emailed to school administrators that morning, warning that dangerous materials would be brought onto campus at Guilderland Central High School. A similar email was sent on Nov. 21.
The defendants, two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, were both charged with felony computer trespass. The 15-year-old was also charged with making a terrorist threat, also a felony.
The 15-year-old juvenile was released to his parents, pending family court action.
The 16-year-old, Nathan Agneta, is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Dec. 1.
The high school posted news of the threat on the district website shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday. Responding officers set up checkpoints at entrances of the school and administrators checked each student upon arrival. By 10 a.m., police had done a full K9 sweep of the high school, and students and staff were able to resume their daily schedules. Police remained on campus for the rest of the day.
Guilderland police investigated the threats with the help of the Guilderland Central School District, FBI, ATF, and the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. Additional K9 resources were provided by Albany County Sheriff’s Department and the Troy Police Department, who also responded to the scene Tuesday morning.
“As a school district we take very seriously our responsibility to provide a safe environment for our students and staff,” stated district officials. “Whenever any threats are made, every effort is made to work with law enforcement to investigate the threat and when necessary to pursue criminal prosecution of those who make false threats against the school district.”
School counselors and social workers have been made available to speak with students.
