Josiah Leach, Transmitting Threats in Interstate Commerce, Vermont 2017

A South Burlington, Vermont man has pleaded guilty to sending threatening messages to students and faculty at South Burlington High School.

Josiah Leach, 19, appeared before the Honorable Geoffrey W. Crawford and entered a plea of guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with transmitting threats in interstate commerce.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Leach was arrested after law enforcement identified him as the source of multiple threats against students and faculty at South Burlington High School between April 18, 2017 and April 21, 2017.

The threats resulted in repeated lockdowns at South Burlington school facilities and the closure of all South Burlington schools one day before the students' spring break.

Leach was released on pre-trial conditions on April 27, 2017, but was arrested for violating his release conditions on May 26, 2017.

He was released with new conditions prohibiting him from using any device with internet access and served ten days in prison.

Leach's felony guilty plea came pursuant to a previously filed agreement with the government, which acknowledged his responsibility for all of the April 2017 threats and agreed to recommend a five-year probationary sentence at the time of sentencing.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2018, in Rutland, Vermont.

Defendant: Josiah Leach

Criminal Charges: Transmitted threats in interstate commerce

City and State: South Burlington, Vermont

Date of Crime: April 18, 2017 - April 21, 2017

Sentence: Five-year probationary sentence

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/pr/man-accused-sending-threats-south-burlington-high-school-students-and-faculty-pleads