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Bail raised to $100,000 for Knoch student who made online threats

The bail for a Knoch High School student accused of making online threats to shoot other students has been increased to $100,000 straight cash.

District Judge Sue Haggerty said she increased the bail for Jason M. Bowen, 18, of Penn Township for public safety reasons.

“This was as a precaution,” Haggerty said this morning, “I have concerns for students and the community as to (Bowen's) mental state.”

The defendant was initially placed in the Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail following his arrest early Monday morning and ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation

Middlesex Township police said the teen posted a video to social media showing him firing repeated rounds from a semi-automatic rifle with the caption “Training for prom walk.”

Police said Bowen was arrested Sunday at his home where they found a pair of brass knuckles and a container with suspected marijuana residue in his room.

He is charged with a felony count of risking a catastrophe and misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, possession of a prohibited offensive weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Haggerty made another modification to Bowen's bail. She said that she wants be advised of the findings of the defendant's mental health evaluation.

She said that she could further address the teen's bail depending on those findings.

We are still investigating this incident — read the full article in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.

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