12-year-old sends bomb threats to Maryland schools — knowing a loophole prevents charges

A 12-year-old has admitted to sending over half a dozen bomb threats to schools in Maryland — with the knowledge that a technicality of Maryland law makes it impossible to prosecute them, reported NBC News on Thursday.

"In Maryland, children younger than 13 can be charged only with offenses that constitute a 'crime of violence,' Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones said in a statement," reported Antonio Planas. "A police spokesperson confirmed the child knew no charges could be brought before speaking to detectives."

Among the schools targeted for bomb threats were Montgomery Blair High School, Oak View Elementary School, and Silver Spring International Middle School. IT staff working for the Montgomery school system helped identify the child.

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“It is disheartening to accept that the individual responsible for disrupting the educational process and instilling fear in our community was well aware of the legal limitations surrounding their age,” Jones said. “They understood that they could not be charged under current Maryland statutes.” He went on to denounce the threats as "reckless and dangerous" and a burden on law enforcement.

Although in this case the motivations are unclear beyond a knowledge the suspect could get away with it, high-profile bomb threats have made news around the country, often used as tools of political terrorism.

For example, multiple bomb threats have been called against courthouses in New York and Florida where former President Donald Trump has been tried, and threats have also targeted LGBTQ-friendly venues, including libraries, singled out by the far-right group Moms for Liberty.