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Teen posts bond, pleads innocent to school threat charge

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Korey Robert Flad posted $50,000 bond after his $1 million bail was reduced, but he won’t be returning to Ramona High School because there is a restraining order against him that was filed by the District Attorney’s office.

Flad, 19, pleaded not guilty Oct. 28 to the single charge filed against him, which is making a criminal threat against the high school. Sheriff’s deputies said Flad threatened to blow up the high school with explosives, but in a search of his home they found nothing in his possession that he could have used to do it.

Flad was arrested Oct. 25 on suspicion of threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction, making a criminal threat, and threatening a school. Bail was initially set at $1 million, but, since the only charge filed against him was making a criminal threat, his bail was reduced by a judge to the amount that a prosecutor said was “standard” for the charge.

“Should he make bail, he has a stay away order imposed (as) he can’t go within 100 yards of Ramona High School,” said Deputy District Attorney Heather Trocha before he posted bail.

Sheriff’s deputies collected some items from Flad’s residence, including a computer, after getting a search warrant from a judge. The alleged threat occurred on Oct. 23, but the circumstances of what Flad said or did have not come out in court.

Flad was dressed in blue jail clothing and appeared on a television monitor in the courtroom with Attorney Eric Chase. Chase raised the issue of Flad being bullied at the high school.

“He has never been in trouble before,” Chase told the judge. ‘This is an unfortunate situation where some people were picking on him in school and he made some unfortunate comments.”

A Nov. 10 preliminary hearing was scheduled in El Cajon Superior Court. A readiness hearing was set for Nov. 6 to determine if Flad’s lawyer is ready to defend him at the preliminary hearing or whether he needs more time to prepare. It’s likely the hearing will be delayed.

Ramona High School Principal Tony Newman issued a notice to parents of all students on Oct. 25, telling them of the alleged threat and arrest. Parents were told the students were not in danger and could attend school.

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