Teen charged in plot

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CHESTERFIELD, S.C. --- An 18-year-old accused of planning to bomb his high school was charged Tuesday with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a possible life sentence, as more details of his potentially deadly scheme emerged.

Ryan Schallenberger, a student charged with planning a bomb attack on Chesterfield High School, smiles and waves as he appears before the judge. The teen was a straight-A student.  Associated Press
Associated Press
Ryan Schallenberger, a student charged with planning a bomb attack on Chesterfield High School, smiles and waves as he appears before the judge. The teen was a straight-A student.

Ryan Schallenberger's journal contained an entry made last month that contained a timeline for an attack, including how he would lock his school's doors and where he would place more than five explosives in the building, prosecutor Jay Hodge said after a court hearing for the teen.

"The kid needs help, but this is a violent offense," Mr. Hodge said. "You can't put an entire community in fear and just walk away. In this situation, society requires jail time. There's no way to excuse or forgive what he did."

Authorities have described Mr. Schallenberger as a straight-A student who has seemed confused since his arrest. Cuffed and shackled, the skinny teen with a wispy mustache smiled and gave a quick wave Tuesday to courtroom spectators who included his parents and some classmates.

Mr. Schallenberger was arrested Saturday after his parents called police because he had ordered 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate through eBay, which they retrieved after getting a delivery notice from the postal service, authorities said.

Comments

Craig Spinks

Might being a straight-A student expiate this kid? I hope and trust not. By the way, consider the accused's countenance. Is his countenance saying, "I can outsmart these folks?"

pantherluvcik

I really hate to see young kids, who are smart and possibly a candidate worthy of being reformed sent to prison. I think some of these children are just confused by tv, video games and other venues that desensitize our youth. These children are not as mature as they want to be, just forced to live in this world where they have to appear more mature to fit in. I hope they give this kid the counseling and help he needs to turn his life around and not just throw him in prison for the rest of his life and forget about him. And props to the parents for turning him in, i'm sure it was the hardest thing they ever had to do in life. I don't know if I could have. God bless and good luck to all involved.

luckyladydays

I think he got it for his A-Rab friends.

christian134

The smile on plastered on this young man's face speaks volumes.....Frankly this is the smile of a boy that clearly says "I don't care about you wish you were all dead"....Kinda like a game.....Pray for this young man's salvation and for his family...They are going to need all the prayers and support just to get through this time in their lives.....

InChristLove

I have to agree with pantherluvcik, this kid needs some counseling. When I saw the picture of him smiling my first thought was this kid has no idea what serious trouble he is in. I agree that he needs to be held countable for his actions, I'm just afraid that a prison term without some sort of counseling will only make this young man worse. My heart goes out to these parents also, that must have been the hardest call to make and my prayers are with all of them.

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