The recent school threats could lead to a lot more than just expulsion.

Students should consider the 10 years they could serve for making threats.

That’s the punishment for threatening harm or violence against a school or students at any school in South Carolina. 

A May 2018 update to SC statute 16-17-425 on student threats added all forms of communication to the law.

That made it illegal to send a threat via any social media platform including Snapchat, Kik and Discord – platforms that have been used in school threat cases in Lexington County this year.

Last week, a 7th grade White Knoll Middle School student was arrested and charged for making threatening statements on Snapchat.

The unnamed minor is also charged with 3rd-degree assault following a physical confrontation with another 7th grade White Knoll student.

The 12-year-old allegedly threatened a female classmate over Snapchat following their “breakup,” Captain Adam Myrick of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department told the Chronicle.

The student has been released into the custody of his mother and will appear in Lexington County Family Court at a later date.

According to Capt. Myrick, there were 3 threats against Lexington County schools during the 2018-19 school year.

There have been 8 in Lexington County since Aug. 12.