Canadian teen pleads guilty in Princeton University bogus bomb threat incident

A Canadian teen who called in a bogus bomb threat to Princeton University in September of last year recently entered a guilty plea in Mercer County Family Court.

The 16-year-old, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, entered a guilty plea on May 28 to one count of third-degree false public alarm. He was sentenced to two years probation, along with conditions that he perform 30 hours of community service, pay a $2,000 fine, and surrender his driver’s license for six months. He also must undergo a psychological evaluation and follow any recommendations that result from the evaluation.

On Sept. 19, 2020, the Princeton University Department of Public Safety received a phone call reporting that the caller had placed improvised explosive devices in several locations on campus, including the Princeton Art Museum, Firestone Library, Nassau Hall and the Princeton University Chapel. The buildings were evacuated and searched by law enforcement officers to ensure that members of the community were safe. No explosive devices were found.

Multiple law enforcement agencies across the United States and Canada participated in an extensive investigation that resulted in the identification of the suspect and a warrant for his arrest.

The teen was taken into custody in Louisiana on March 24 by the local sheriff’s department. He will now be extradited to Connecticut to face similar charges there.