Days after school threats posted on social media resulted in the lockdown and cancellation of classes at school districts in Butler County, District Attorney Richard Goldinger informed at least one district that his office would seek detention or incarceration for anyone who makes such threats.

In a letter sent Sept. 13 from Goldinger to Butler Area School District superintendent Brian White, the district attorney recognized the disruption and inconvenience to parents, students and school employees caused by the threat — which turned out to be not credible — and advised that police file criminal charges against whoever made the threat or potential future threats.

In the letter, he stated that detention in a juvenile facility will be sought if the suspect is a juvenile, and incarceration with a substantial bond will be sought for a suspect over 18 years old.

“I should state that I understand that many students shared these threats this week,” he said. “Their intent was not to spread the threat, but rather to make people aware that a threat had been made against the Butler Area School District.

“I commend their intentions and cannot imagine what they must have been feeling knowing that a threat had been made against their school and they could possibly in danger.”

The letter says he plans to share the letter with police departments in the county and the juvenile probation office, and asks White to share the letter with district families “so they know that we, together, will not tolerate this any longer.”

Goldinger said the letter is a follow-up to a meeting he had with White on Sept. 12.

White had ordered a lock down of the high school and intermediate high school on Sept. 11 after a vague threat originating from outside of the district was posted on a social media site at 8:15 a.m. that day.

All classes at Butler Area and Slippery Rock Area school districts and Butler Catholic School, St. Wendelin School in Butler, St. Gregory School in Zelienople, and at least one other private school were canceled Sept. 12. White said that additional threats directed at the high school and Butler in general had been received overnight.

Similar posts impacted schools throughout Western Pennsylvania.

A 10-year-old female student at Shaler Area Elementary School has been charged with posting a threat about several schools, according to Shaler Township Police Chief Sean Frank.

On Sept. 12, Frank said a felony charge of terroristic threats and misdemeanor harassment charges were to filed in juvenile court. On Friday, he confirmed that the charges were filed against the student.

Moniteau School District reportedly received a similar letter from Goldinger.