- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of New Times free.
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is throwing the book at two 18-year-old girls who made bomb threats at their Tempe high school, Corona Del Sol.
Laurin Godson (mugshot on the left) and Lauren Tamburrelli (on the right) were charged by Thomas' office late last month for hoaxing a terrorist attack, a class four felony. They were also charged with felony disruption of an educational institution and misdemeanor false reporting to a law enforcement agency.
The seniors were arrested on March 26 following a tension-filled week for school officials who had received a letter claiming "large parts of the school will be destroyed" on March 20. Classes were canceled at Corona on that day, and authorities expended plenty of resources trying to find the culprits.
Turned in by their classmates, the girls later admitted they just wanted a day off school, police said.
Thomas' office put out a news release on the charges today (see below).
Craig Mehrens, Godson's attorney, says it's too early to comment on the charges.
"My client is taking this matter very seriously," Mehrens tells New Times. "She was arrested, she was put in jail and she's terrified. She's very concerned."
Tamburrelli's attorney, Chad Pajerski, says the girls face expulsion from Corona at an upcoming hearing.
Keep Phoenix New Times Free... Since we started Phoenix New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Phoenix with no paywalls.
