Former teacher sentenced for Louisiana bomb threats

MONROE, La. – A former teacher who made bomb threats against three Ouachita Parish schools will serve at least four months in jail.

David Reyna was sentenced in state district court in Monroe on Thursday. Judge Stephens Winters sentenced Reyna to 65 months hard labor with all but 20 months suspended. The News-Star reports that Reyna could be eligible for parole in four months.

Winters also sentenced Reyna to three years supervised probation and 100 hours of community service following his release.

Reyna, a Mexico native who lives in the United States legally, was a teacher at River Oaks School when he called 911 on Sept. 24 and made bomb threats against River Oaks, St. Frederick and Ouachita Christian schools.

The three schools were evacuated. Police did not find explosives.

Reyna was arrested Sept. 28 and pleaded guilty Dec. 3 to one charge of communicating information about a false bomb threat on school property.

Winters said factors in the sentencing included Reyna's otherwise clean criminal record, and a psychologist's evaluation that Reyna is not a danger to society.

Winters, who sealed Reyna's records concerning Monroe psychologist E.H. Baker's evaluation, also said a letter from Reyna to the judge "showed contrition and remorse, which was likewise beneficial."

He said Reyna's crime was "bizarre and probably out of character. I don't find you're a violent person by nature," Winters said.

Nonetheless, Winters said the seriousness of Reyna's crime demanded some prison time.

"Your criminal conduct created panic, confusion, disruption and stretched limited law enforcement resources," Winters told Reyna. "The fear instilled was substantial, and fear is a powerful weapon. It can't be ignored."