A Clarke County grand jury has indicted a University of Georgia student accused of using social media to threaten mass violence on campus.
Ariel Omar Arias, 19, was indicted Tuesday on four counts of making terroristic threats, all felony charges, according to Superior Court records.
Arias was arrested Sept. 19, several hours after a threat made through a cellphone 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 Jimmy Williamson said the threat was believed to be credible, and officers and a bomb squad were immediately dispatched to the area. Several campus-wide alerts were sent to students and staff members.
UGA officers used information from cellular service providers to identify the suspect, according to police. 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 was later released from jail on $8,000 bond, but banned from Clarke County as a condition of the bond. He is allowed to return to Athens for court appearances while his case is pending.
His arraignment is scheduled for March 4.
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