VERO BEACH – A former Vero Beach High School student will spend the next six months on probation and will not be allowed to make contact to either Vero Beach High or Sebastian River High in connection to a fake bomb threat case, Circuit Court Judge Robert Hawley ruled Thursday afternoon.
Nineteen-year-old Brittany Walker was charged with misdemeanor disturbing a school, religious or other function. She received credit for the 79 days in county jail she has already served. “She’s going to meet her obligations,” defense attorney Andy Metcalf told the judge. He said she is continuing her education through Florida Virtual School and is doing well.
Walker was originally charged with felony false reporting of planting a bomb. The State Attorney’s Office dropped the charge in favor of the misdemeanor disruption because all six of the phoned-in phony bomb threats to Vero Beach High had a male voice.
Walker had been charged with felony because her cell phone had been used to make the calls, the State Attorney’s Office said.
Her misdemeanor charge carried a potential maximum sentence of 60 days in jail, six months on probation and a $500 fine.
Walker was arrested with fellow classmate Taren Stage, now-18, who faces six felony charges of false reporting of planting a bomb. His case has been delayed to March 3.
The two then-students were allegedly involved with making six phone calls between March and April of last year claiming there was a bomb on the Vero Beach High School property and causing the school to evacuate all school buildings.
Making a false bomb threat is a felony punishable to up to 15 years in prison.
