Crime & Safety
East Hampton Man Pleads Guilty to Planting Fake Bomb at Middle School
Sean Doran, 21, was charged in January with planting a fake bomb on the school's front steps.
The man accused of planting a fake bomb at East Hampton High School in January, and prompting a lockdown of all of the town's schools for a day, has pleaded guilty to the charge.
Sean Doran, 21, of 59 South Main St., pleaded guilty today to one count of "conveying false or misleading information and a hoax by leaving a fake bomb device: at the front doors of the middle school on Saturday, Jan. 12.
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Doran appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford, said U.S. Attorney David B. Fein
“This type of crime threatens the sense of security that children and teachers are entitled to enjoy at their schools,” stated U.S. Attorney Fein. “Hoax crimes and threats to schools will be thoroughly investigated by our law enforcement partners and prosecuted by this office to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
“Public safety is critical in any civilized society,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Mertz. “To that end, the FBI will investigate and bring to justice those who threaten the sanctity of public life. The FBI wants to assure the citizens of the State of Connecticut and the Nation, that together with our federal, state and local partners, we are truly committed to identifying threats to public safety, as that is our first obligation.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 8 a.m. on Jan. 12 custodians at the East Hampton Middle School found a device leaning against the front doors of the school. It was a rectangular box, approximately 12 inches, by eight inches, by four inches in size, taped together with orange and red duct tape, with a white egg timer on top.
School employees contacted the East Hampton Police Department, which subsequently notified the Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad, which determined that the device was fake.
A review of the East Hampton Middle School’s surveillance video revealed that Doran placed the fake bomb at the doors of the school at approximately 1:47 a.m. that day.
Also arrested was his girlfriend, Kayla Sypek, 20, of 17 Staeth Road, who allegedly drove Doran to the school. Sypek was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree threatening and first-degree breach of peace, all felonies.
Chief Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for Doran for Aug. 1. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the East Hampton Police, the New Haven Police Department and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Anjna R. Kapoor.
“This type of crime threatens the sense of security that children and teachers are entitled to enjoy at their schools,” stated U.S. Attorney Fein. “Hoax crimes and threats to schools will be thoroughly investigated by our law enforcement partners and prosecuted by this office to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
“Public safety is critical in any civilized society,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Mertz. “To that end, the FBI will investigate and bring to justice those who threaten the sanctity of public life. The FBI wants to assure the citizens of the State of Connecticut and the Nation, that together with our federal, state and local partners, we are truly committed to identifying threats to public safety, as that is our first obligation.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 8 a.m. on Jan. 12 custodians at the East Hampton Middle School found a device leaning against the front doors of the school. It was a rectangular box, approximately 12 inches, by eight inches, by four inches in size, taped together with orange and red duct tape, with a white egg timer on top.
School employees contacted the East Hampton Police Department, which subsequently notified the Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad, which determined that the device was fake.
A review of the East Hampton Middle School’s surveillance video revealed that Doran placed the fake bomb at the doors of the school at approximately 1:47 a.m. that day.
Also arrested was his girlfriend, Kayla Sypek, 20, of 17 Staeth Road, who allegedly drove Doran to the school. Sypek was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree threatening and first-degree breach of peace, all felonies.
Chief Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for Doran for Aug. 1. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the East Hampton Police, the New Haven Police Department and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Anjna R. Kapoor.
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