A 19-year-old man has been charged for allegedly threatening a Lake County school on social media. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
BALDWIN — A 19-year-old man has been charged for allegedly threatening a Lake County school on social media.
Zachary James Herald, 19, of Howard City, was arraigned in the Lake County Trial Court on multiple misdemeanor and felony counts for an incident that occurred Friday, June 3. According to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office, about 7 p.m. Friday, Baldwin Community Schools reported a threat made against the school via social media.
After discussion with school administration, the school's exterior was locked and law enforcement provided extra security, while the night's activity — a junior high school dance — continued as normal, the release states. Parent pick-up was limited to one at a time with law enforcement present, and the dance concluded without incident.
Through an investigation, police identified Herald as a suspect and took him into custody. According to Det. Lt. Brad Nixon, the suspect's phone has been sent to the Michigan State Police Forensic Lab in Traverse City for analysis. He was arraigned on the following authorized charges:
22-15178-SM
- Count 1: Stalking
- Count 2: Telecommunications Services-Malicious Use
- Count 3: Malicious Destruction of Personal Property-Less than $200.00
22-15203-FY
- Count 1: False Report or Threat of Terrorism
- Count 2: Schools-Intentional Threat To Commit Act of Violence against school, school employees or student with specific intent to carry out or overt act toward
- Count 3: Schools-Intentional Threat To Commit Act of violence against school, school employees or students
- Count 4: Stalking
- Count 5: Telecommunications Services-Malicious Use
Bond was set at $15,000 for the first three counts and $75,000 for the other five counts.
"My office is currently reviewing other incidences that Zachary is involved in here in Lake County," Nixon told the Pioneer. "There may be additional charges after the digital evidence is reviewed and our investigation is complete."
Herald is scheduled to be in court June 14 for a pretrial hearing for the first three counts and a probable cause conference for the other five.
