Tucson, Ariz –The Pima County Attorney’s Office on Thursday won a swift conviction of a Tucson man accused of making bomb threats to a Tucson high school in 2023. The defendant, an adult, used a voice modulator and a virtual private network (VPN) to disguise his voice and phone number when he made the bomb threat in March 2023. The defendant told investigators he made the threat because of his hatred of the school, from which he had previously been expelled for bullying LGBTQIA+ students.
In June of 2023, the defendant sent a former classmate a direct message with an aerial photograph of the school showing students being evacuated on the day of the threat. The photo included an image of a swastika and areas marked where he indicated he had placed bombs. He also posted an image of himself on a social media platform holding a pipe bomb. Students were sent home the day of the threat, and school officials said attendance was severely reduced for the remainder of that week.
The prosecution team, headed by Deputy Pima County Attorney Arlene Leoni, won convictions for interfering with an Educational Institution, Making a Terrorist Threat, and using an Electronic Device to Terrify or Intimidate. A verdict was returned in the case after approximately one hour of deliberation.
Aggravating conditions include the defendant’s prior criminal conviction, his probation status at the time of the offense, and his history of committing offenses based on malice against members of the LGBTQIA+ community, which will also be factors when he is sentenced for the crimes.
Media Contact: Shawndrea Thomas
Director of Communications
Pima County Attorney’s Office
(520) 724-5738 (Office)
(520) 310-4720 (Mobile)
Shawndrea.Thomas@pcao.pima.gov
