Mom pleas for Madison student accused of threats to be on house arrest

The mother of a freshman student at Madison High School made a tearful plea this morning to have the teen placed on house arrest so he could spend time with his ill grandfather.

But during a pre-trial hearing for the teen charged with making a terroristic threat, a third-degree felony, Judge Ronald Craft rejected the mother’s request, saying he had a “responsibility” to the community and its safety. Craft said he didn’t have “enough” information and needed an expert to make an evaluation before he could make a decision.

His determination, he said to the mother, had to be “good for the community, good for him and good for your family.”

The judge told the mother that he understood she “believed” in her son.

MORE: Madison Schools student arrested for allegedly making threats

The boy was allowed to hug his mother after the hearing and she told him: “We know no way did you do this. I love you baby.” They embraced for several seconds and she patted him on the back. When he turned around, he wiped away the tears.

The teen then was led out of the Butler County Juvenile Courtroom and returned to the detention center. Craft also ordered a risk assessment on the teen.

The teen was arrested March 2 after he allegedly made threats and referenced a school shooting that injured four students last year, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

RELATED: More should be done to secure Butler County schools, sheriff says

The freshman told a female student that she “needed to watch out because he was going to do an ‘Austin Hancock Version 2’ at the school,” according to the complaint from the Butler County juvenile court.

The student, who this news outlet is not naming because of his age, was involved in an argument with another student when he made the threat, according to the complaint.

His mother, at his hearing this morning, said her son told her he didn’t know the female student who reported him.

Madison Local School District officials said the alleged threat occurred off campus and students and staff were not in danger.

MORE: Madison details safety improvements after school shooting

The student also faces discipline from the school, officials added.

Butler County sheriff’s Lt. Rick Bucheit said the student referenced the school shooting last year at Madison. He made the verbal threats to other students, Bucheit said.

When the student was arrested, he wasn’t at school that day, Bucheit said. The department takes all school threats “very seriously,” he said.

On Feb. 29, 2016, four Madison eighth-graders were injured when Hancock, then 14, opened fire in the school cafeteria.

Hancock was convicted of bringing a gun to school and firing the shots last February that injured four classmates. Hancock was sentenced to the Ohio Department of Youth Services until his 21st birthday.

About the Author