‘Ten days of terrorism’: Henrico 11-year-old sentenced for calling in school threats across the country

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Florida judge recently sentenced a Henrico County 11-year-old for cross-country crimes, which law enforcement agents in Florida described as "chilling enough if they had been committed by a middle-aged man... let alone a child." It all stems from what a Florida leader called "ten days of terrorism" back in May this year. Flagler County, Florida saw a spike in violent threats to local schools. Investigators traced those calls to the home of an 11-year-old boy in Henrico County. The child racked up almost fifty charges related to these threats and after a recent sentencing hearing, we now know, he — and his parents — will be paying the price. 8News spoke with Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, who has played an integral role in the investigation and enforcing efforts to hold the offender accountable. "I'm hopeful that it will get this young man on track," Sheriff Staly said when asked about the child's sentence. "If not, I think we're going to see him again, maybe not my jurisdiction, but in some jurisdiction, and he's going to commit some very serious crimes." Earlier this year, Sheriff Staly and his team in Flagler County held a press event where they played a recording from one of the 911 calls the child made. "I just shot my teacher in the head," a voice -- now confirmed to be that of the Henrico 11-year-old -- said to the operator. After being extradited to Florida following a nationwide pick-up order, then pleading "no contest" to 46 charges — including 15 felonies — across eight states, related to fake bomb and school shooting threats, the child will spend 12 to 18 months in a Florida juvenile detention facility. Sheriff Staly said his team wanted to ensure the state held the child accountable for his actions. The sheriff told 8News how the child's actions impacted the Florida community. "Parents were keeping their students at home. Students were afraid to go to school. It was really traumatic for our community," Sheriff Staly said. "That began ten days of terrorism to our community, quite frankly." In custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the child will receive counseling and mental health guidance. A judge also ordered the child's parents to pay an estimated $46,000 in damages. Investigators reportedly spent more than 700 hours working on the case. "I think this is a fair sentence," Sheriff Staly said. "His criminal behavior was escalating based on what we found on the technology through our digital forensics, so I'm hoping he can get his life turned around." In his eight years as sheriff, Staly said this wave of crime prompted the most fear he's ever seen rip through his community. The leader previously called the boy both smart and dangerous; now, he hopes this example teaches parents that they will be held accountable if their child breaks the law. "Be the sheriff in your home," Sheriff Staly said. "We don't like arresting children, but if you won't be the parent in your home and they commit a crime, at least in the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, we will be [the] parent." The sheriff also reminded children that actions have consequences and no joke is worth sacrificing one's future. He added that messages on Snapchat, iMessage, or any social media can, and will, be taken seriously. 8News reached out to Henrico County law enforcement and the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office for further information, but they said they did not play a role in this case.