Judge: UGA student accused of threat must leave Clarke County

The University of Georgia student accused of using social media to threaten the campus was granted $8,000 bond at a court hearing Tuesday afternoon.

But as a condition of the bond, Ariel Omar Arias has been banned from Clarke County, according to the Magistrate Court clerk’s office. Arias, 19, of Lilburn, has 48 hours to remove his belongings and return to his parents’ Lilburn home under the judge’s ruling. He posted bond later Tuesday and was released from jail.

Arias had been held without bond since Friday night, when he was arrested and charged with with two felony counts of terroristic threats, according to police. His arrest came several hours after a threat made through a cell phone app prompted an evacuation and search of the Miller Learning Center, a classroom building in the heart of the Athens campus.

“If you want to live don’t be at the MLC at 12:15,” Arias allegedly posted through the Yik Yak app.

UGA Police Chief Chief Jimmy Williamson said the threat was believed credible, and officers and a bomb squad were immediately dispatched to the area. Several campus-wide alerts were sent to students and staff members beginning around noon Friday.

When questioned by police, Arias allegedly admitted the threat was an immature prank and that he had no intentions of causing any harm. At the time of his arrest, Arias was also suspended from the university.

A Parkview High School graduate, Arias has no prior criminal record. He will be allowed to return to Athens for court appearances while his case is pending.