Stetson University Student Who Threatened School Banned From Volusia County

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DeLand, FL - A Stetson University student arrested in 2017 for making a social media online threat to bomb the school is now banned from Volusia County. Griffin Powell, now 20-years-old, was arrested for making the threats on Snap Chat after another student saw the posts and alerted school officials.

Powell was not at the school at the time the threats were made due to being evacuated for Hurricane Irma. He was arrested at his family's home in Clay County, Florida. Records showed that Powell had not had any previous incidents with the DeLand Police Department, and he had just started at Stetson University.

During a news briefing at that time, DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger said, “All I will say about the threats is that they were specific and that they were concerning to us. There were some references made to bombs and gas, and they were very specific, and we immediately took action,” says Umberger. Police could find no indication of racial tones in the threats.

Court documents show that Powell pleaded no contest to discharging a destructive device and was sentenced to five years of house arrest and probation.

According to the State Attorney's Office, Powell has been ordered by a judge to not return to Volusia County unless it is for court. He's also ordered not to have direct or indirect contact with Stetson University and is only allowed to call the school to check on grades, books and other school matters.  He's also been banned from the Stetson University campus.