Bond in WCHS bomb scare; search and seizure in Skyline threat

There have been developments this week in both recent bomb threats at the county’s two high schools.

On Tuesday (Feb. 14) Caleb Sutphin, the 18-year-old accused of planting a “hoax device” fake bomb at Warren County High School on January 27, was granted bond of $5,000.

Charged as an adult, Sutphin faces a Class 6 felony count of manufacture of a hoax explosive device, with a sentencing range of one to five years in prison.  The Valentine’s Day bond hearing was Sutphin’s third within 15 days in Warren County General District Court.  Sutphin lives with his family on Deerhaven Road in Front Royal.

If information initially given to investigators and the items seized in a search of the juvenile bomb threat suspect’s home are any indicator, Skyline High, its students and staff may have averted a 5-explosive device plot planned for either Feb. 10 or 13. Photo/Roger Bianchini/CassAviation

Ironically, as Caleb Sutphin was having the second of his three bond hearings the afternoon of February 8, a juvenile suspect was being questioned for allegedly threatening to bring explosive devices to Skyline High School.  Unlike the earlier threat at WCHS, the Skyline incident did not result in an evacuation of the school.

And on Monday, February 13, a search warrant resulting in the seizure of 122 specific items was executed on the Gafia Lodge Road family home of a 16-year-old juvenile suspect.  The home has a Middletown address.  That suspect has been held without bond in the Northwestern Juvenile Detention Center since the incident.  He is charged with a Class 5 felony count of “threat to bomb” Skyline High School.

He has a bond hearing scheduled for March 2.  But the February 13 search of his family residence may not have done his case for bond much good.

Skyline suspect search

Among the items seized in that search were firearms, including multiple shotguns, rifles, handguns, ammunition, crossbows, computers, cell phones, X-Box 360s, Co2 canister and other materials that could be used in constructing explosive devices.

According to an affidavit attached to the search warrant, the suspect told Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jason Bates on February 8 that he had researched how to make a Co2 bomb on the Internet, and that the computer he did that research with was at his home.

The affidavit also states the suspect told WCSO School Resource Officer P. Breener on Wednesday, February 8, that he had told several people he planned to set five Co2 bombs in five different locations at the school on Friday, February 10 or Monday, February 13.

Authorities noted the items seized were found throughout the home, and not exclusively in the suspect’s room.  However, the search warrant indicates that items found could lead to additional charges against the juvenile suspect.

Sutphin bond

A Wednesday (Feb. 15) check with RSW Regional Jail indicated that the 6-foot-3 Caleb Sutphin was no longer being held at the jail, having made bond after being incarcerated for 18 days in the adult detention facility.

Sutphin was first denied bond on January 31, when he appeared without counsel.  Judge W. Dale Houff suggested Sutphin reapply with the attorney appointed to defend him that day.

WCHS bomb scare suspect Caleb Sutphin is now free on bond.

On Feb. 8, Sutphin appeared with that attorney, Matthew Beyrau, before visiting, substitute Harrisonburg Judge John Hart.  Hart heard testimony from one witness, Sutphin’s mother Susan.  Despite being told the defendant had not previously been in trouble with the law and would have the support of his parents and eight siblings, particularly one older sister, Hart denied bond.

In explaining his decision, the judge said he was concerned there might “be substantial mental health concerns that could make the defendant a danger to himself or others.”

On February 14 these same issues were reargued.  This time before Judge Ronald Napier, Beyrau argued that his client did NOT have mental health issues.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Layton readdressed the commonwealth’s evidence that Sutphin’s planting of a fake bomb device discovered after a fire alarm was set shortly after noon, was premeditated and well thought out.  Layton wondered if that alone was not an alarm for mental health concerns.  Wednesday, Layton suggested that if released, Sutphin receive counseling.  However, the judge did not order counseling as a condition of the $5,000 bond he did impose.

Responding to questions about her son’s educational background on February 8, Susan Sutphin said her son had been homeschooled “for 17 years” before entering WCHS in October 2016.

Sutphin could face from one to five years in prison if convicted on the Class 6 felony “manufacture of a hoax explosive device” charge.