Jackson students arrested for writing a letter threatening a teacher

Two students at Jackson Junior High School were arrested earlier this week for writing a letter threatening to harm a teacher.

The boys were taken into custody by juvenile justice authorities. They were questioned and their homes were searched. No signs of any weapons were found.

The letter was written in a Word file on a school computer, and the two boys communicated by taking turns adding to the file. Among other things, they threatened to come to school with a poisonous gas and injure a teacher who had changed a classroom seating chart.

Principal Cliff Crosnoe said the note was discovered after school let out the day it was written and authorities responded immediately.

"These are two young men that never get in trouble, but they started writing off hand and totally inappropriate things and now they are going to have to face the consequences of their actions," he said.

Crosnoe said a threat assessment team will examine the case and determine what the appropriate suspension should be. The boys will be suspended for at least 10 days, he said.

"There was nothing to this, but because of their immature actions they got hauled off in handcuffs," said Crosnoe. "This thing kind of mushroomed into a lot more stories, and now rumors start, and kids who weren't even involved are being accused by other kids."

Contrary to rumors, there was never any discussion of canceling school, said Crosnoe.