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A 14-year-old student in Weber County was charged Thursday for making clown-related threats on social media.
The Rocky Mountain Junior High School student purportedly "thought it would be funny to capitalize on the recent attention that clown threats have received in the media," according to a news release from the Weber County Sheriff's Office. He was arrested and cited in juvenile court Thursday for four counts of threats of violence.
He was also expelled from the school, the release states.
The student apparently created a parody Instagram account using a clown alias and messaged other students at the school, threatening to shoot or stab them. One of the students alerted the school's administration, who tracked down the student responsible.
"The student admitted he was behind the posts, mistakenly believing that it was simply a joke," the release states.
There was no evidence that the student intended to carry out the threats and the sheriff's office said at no time were any students in danger. The department noted that it investigates all threats "whether they are meant as a joke or to incite fear."
Utah is the latest state in a nationwide hype involving clown costumes and threats, though none have proven to be legitimate.
In Logan, a student faces criminal charges in connection with clown-related threats made against Logan High School. The Herald-Journal reported that the threat came to the school's attention Wednesday. A resource officer found no tangible threat.
Another student is facing two counts of communications harassment for making similar threats to Mt. Logan Middle School. Ridgeline High School also reported social media postings stating a clown would visit the school on Friday, but school officials say no threat had been made.
Logan Superintendent Frank Schofield says he hopes the current national trend of clown-related threats ends soon.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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