Woman Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison for Hoax Bomb Threat Against Claremore Schools

Chief Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Stephanie Louise Montgomery, 49, of Claremore to ten months in Federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for providing False Information about Bombs in Schools.  As part of the plea agreement, Montgomery will pay restitution in the amount of $6,391.78 to law enforcement agencies and first responders, including the Claremore Police and Fire Departments, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, for costs incurred when responding to and investigating the false threats.  The Court also imposed a mandatory special monetary assessment of $100.00.

On March 27, 2018, Montgomery made a threatening phone call to the Claremore High School, indicating there were “five bombs in backpacks at the high school and ten more bombs located at elementary schools.” Approximately 7,000 students, faculty, coaches, and staff from all Claremore schools were evacuated or sheltered in place until being transported to alternate safe locations. Multiple law enforcement personnel responded and performed sweeps of the seven area schools but found no explosive devices. The threats followed shortly after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in Parkland, Florida.

“Hoax bomb threats are no joke, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime.  The response by law enforcement and school officials in the moments after receiving the threats was excellent.  They mobilized quickly and communicated effectively to protect our school children, teachers, and administrators.  Public safety is our highest priority.  If you engage in hoax bomb threats, we will find you and hold you accountable,” said United States Attorney Trent Shores.

This prosecution resulted from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Department, the Rogers County District Attorney’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad, the Claremore Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Robert T. Raley handled the prosecution of the case.  AUSA Raley is the National Security Anti-Terrorism (ATAC) Prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma.