Crime & Safety

Man Accused of Planting Fake Bomb at East Hampton School to be Sentenced

Sean Doran, who pleaded guilty in the federal case, is due in court in Hartford on Thursday, Aug. 1.

The man accused of planting a fake bomb at East Hampton Middle School in January, and prompting a lockdown of all of the town's schools for a day is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on Thursday.

Sean Doran, 21, of 59 South Main St., pleaded guilty in April to one count of "conveying false or misleading information and a hoax by leaving a fake bomb device" at the front doors of the high school on Saturday, Jan. 12. 

Doran is scheduled to appear before Chief U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford federal court Thursday for sentencing. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 

Custodians at the East Hampton Middle School found the device leaning against the front doors of the school during the early hours of Jan. 12. 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, officials said.

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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. 


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