More information is emerging about a case involving two Barrie teens and the charges they face, including conspiracy to commit murder.
Two 15-year-old boys will remain in custody, likely until Friday when a bail hearing is set. Few details can be reported because of the age of the two teens charged. However, there is new information about the charges and about what could happen when this case goes to trial.
Tuesday night will be the fifth night behind bars for the two teens charged with uttering threats, conspiracy to commit sexual assault, and conspiracy to commit murder. The charges have been laid after Facebook messages between the two 15-year-olds were discovered by one of their fathers.
Barrie Police Service Const. Melanie Turner says the two boys were specifically targeting teachers and students as potential victims. She says they could be facing serious consequences.
“Conspiracy to commit murder … is so serious that the youths could be tried as adults,” she says, warning, “Think twice before you send out any message.”
The cases are being handled in youth court, with the teens’ identities being protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act. While a publication ban is in place for all court proceedings, a lawyer for one of the boys told CTV this has been a stressful time for his client. That boy’s mother was in court today and would only say she is doing fine given the circumstances.
Police hope the entire situation will be a wake-up call for both parents and children.
“People just don't get the message that inappropriateness is inappropriate,” one student tells CTV. “It's not something that's casual and not something that's acceptable.”
But with so many social media sites out there, parents say it's nearly impossible to keep up and so they want to their teach children to know better in the first place.
“We try to teach them common sense so they know what they put out there is there for everyone to see,” says one parent. “And whatever they put on there they shouldn't be embarrassed in the first place.”
It's the same sort of tact Mark Keating, the vice principal at Nantyr Shores, takes with his students.
“We want them to know the person they are online is the person they are in real life,” he says. “And what they say online can be hurtful, even more so than what they may say in person.”
The Simcoe County District School Board won't comment specifically on this situation but says online safety and social media etiquette are things that are taught in school. In cases where students violate a schools' code of conduct, disciplinary action will be taken, which could include suspension or expulsion.
