San Angelo Police Issue Stern Warning to Those Making Fake Clown Threats

SAN ANGELO, TX — There were several reports of a threatening post in social media involving clowns and Lake View High School yesterday, San Angelo police reported. 

San Angelo police are working cooperatively with the school district to combat the clown threats.  So far, no clowns have been sighted and no threats were discovered that were made by clowns.  Police said the Lake View High incident was not a credible threat.  The SAPD and the San Angelo ISD will continue to work together to maintain a safe learning environment for students.

Nationally, several people have been arrested in recent weeks for making false clown threats and they face serious consequences.  Whether made against an individual or an entire school, these types of threats are against the law.  Any person may be charged with “Terroristic Threat” if they are found to have threatened to commit any offense involving violence to any person or property with intent to:

• cause a reaction of any type to his threat by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies;
• place any person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury;
• prevent or interrupt the occupation or use of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, place of employment or occupation, aircraft, automobile, or other form of conveyance, or other public place;
• cause impairment or interruption of public communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public service;
• place the public or a substantial group of the public in fear of serious bodily injury; or
• influence the conduct or activities of a branch or agency of the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.

Offenses under these subsections of Terroristic Threat range from Class B Misdemeanor to Third Degree Felony.

Any person who uses the name or persona of another person without their consent and with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any person, creates a web page on a commercial social networking site, or Internet website, or, sends any messages by any electronic means with the same intent is considered Online Impersonation.  Offenses range from Class A Misdemeanor to Third Degree Felony — charges that can potentially ruin chances for entry into institutes of higher education or prevent licensure and/or disqualify persons from certain occupations.  

If caught making a false report, even about a threatening clown, to a peace officer or law employment employee with intent to deceive, you can be arrested. It is a Class B Misdemeanor, police said. 

Police ask that parents and guardians discuss this topic with their children so they understand the legal consequences of these crimes.