Suspect in South Burlington school threat jailed, pending next hearing

Burlington Free Press

A federal judge ruled Friday that Josiah Leach, 18, under investigation after a series of death threats last month that shut down South Burlington High School, must be held in custody due to evidence he later violated court orders against using the internet.

Leach has pleaded not guilty to emailing a "murder list" on April 20 targeting 11 students and five staff members. The charge carries up to five years in prison. Leach had been allowed to remain free on conditions of release following his arraignment, including that he not use the internet and have no contact with people who are victims or potential witnesses in the case.

Prosecutors allege that Leach hacked into a former friend's Facebook account and fabricated an "admission" to the school threats by that individual.

More:S. Burlington threat suspect accused of breaking rules of release

U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford said Friday that evidence of renewed internet activity was strong enough to warrant taking Leach into custody.

Josiah Leach, of South Burlington, arrives at U.S. District Court in Burlington on Friday, May 26, 2017. Leach, accused of making death threats against South Burlington High School teachers and students in April, was back in court after prosecutors said he violated his conditions of release,

Leach, who before the hearing walked in the front entrance of the federal building on Elmwood Avenue in Burlington, was handcuffed after the 20-minute court proceeding and led away. His step-brother, Leon McKenzie, remained in the courtroom, sobbing.

Leach's return to court followed the filing by federal prosecutors earlier this week of a request to revoke his conditions of release. Court records show the defense asked Crawford for more time to prepare for a full hearing on the revocation request. That proceeding is scheduled to 2 p.m. Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Rutland.

Crawford ruled that Leach must remain in custody at least until then.

Attorney Elizabeth Quinn, who is defending Leach, said she would respond to her client's alleged violations of release conditions after she is provided with details of the FBI's recent investigation, undertaken with Facebook's help.

More:How a cyber trail led to the school threat suspect

Contributing: Adam Silverman, Free Press. Contact Joel Banner Baird at 802-660-1843 or joelbaird@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@VTgoingUp.