Displaying items by tag: Tom Dimopolous

SARATOGA SPRINGS - A 16-year-old student who allegedly “posted a story on SnapChat about shooting up the school,” according to court documents, was charged Friday with making a terroristic threat.  

Julius Cucinella, age 16, was charged with the felony after city police were made aware Friday morning of a threat posted on the social media network, SnapChat.

The social media post caused the school district to be alarmed and fear for the safety of its students and staff, according to court records.  

According to a statement issued by police, a school resource officer assigned to the high school initiated an investigation and was able to identify Cucinella as the source of the post. The investigation into the post did not indicate anyone else being involved in the threat.

The student was arraigned and released on $500 cash bail and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 3.

The terroristic threat charge went on the books shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, with a sentence range of 2 to 7 years in prison. The first known person to have been charged with making such a threat locally was a 42-year-old Skidmore College graduate who in May 2007 telephoned the college's Alumni Welcome Center and left a threatening message on the answering machine stating that he was coming to the campus with his M-16 rifle to cause harm.  

Cucinella was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 3 but the case was adjourned at the attorney’s request. No return date has been specified yet.

The school did release a statement.

“The incident in question was dealt with immediately in conjunction with the Saratoga Spring Police Department and we continue to work together to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Confidentiality laws prevent us from commenting on the specifics of student discipline issues. However, we take incidents of this nature seriously, as student safety is our primary focus,” said Maura Manny, Director of Community Outreach and Communications.