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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Illinois Teacher Charged With Bomb Threat

HARDIN, Ill. (CN) - A special education teacher in Illinois was charged in federal and state courts with making a bomb threat against her school.

Michelle Lynn Smith, who teaches at Calhoun High School in Hardin, wrote in a note: "This school is going down today. KABOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!," federal authorities said. The note was found in a school bathroom.

Calhoun High School is in Hardin, pop. 1,000, is in south central Illinois, 45 miles northwest of St. Louis.

According to federal authorities, Smith's note continued: "Im tired of all the people here. Everyone is going down, the school will b n flames. It is so stupid here. I cant take it ne more. The teachers suck and don't do ne thing to help u. All that matters is what ur name is. If I had certain names I would not have the truble I do. Don't matter, this place sucks and will not be here for long. So long and GOOD-BYE!!!!!!!!!"

Smith, 36, of Jerseyville, Ill., is being held without bail in federal custody, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. She is facing a federal charge of conveying a false threat and a state charge of making a terrorist threat.

The school was evacuated after the note was discovered. No bomb was found at the school and authorities declined to comment on how they linked Smith to the threat.

"Actions such as these cause not only massive wastes of law enforcement resources, but strike fear into the hearts of parents and students alike," U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton said in a statement. "Because children should feel safe in their schools, we take these charges very seriously."

Smith has been placed on administrative leave, according to the Post-Dispatch. If convicted, she faces up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the federal charge.

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