A Plant City man is facing federal charges after he allegedly posted a threat on social media to injure people at a local high school. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, 18-year-old Janye B. Evans could spend up to five years in federal prison if he is convicted of the interstate transmission of a threat to injure.
This legal action comes after law enforcement was alerted to a concerning photograph of Evans posted on July 24. The image showed Evans posing in front of a Hillsborough County high school with a caption that indicated a threat to harm others. The indictment, which is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, does not equate to guilt; Evans remains innocent until proven otherwise.
Additional photographs were found on Evans's social media, which displayed him with objects resembling firearms. Recognizing the potential threat to community safety, the case prompted a swift investigation. Spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the issue has been handed over to Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman for prosecution.
The Department of Justice has made efforts to curb online threats and, as in Evans’s case, seems determined to bring alleged perpetrators to justice.
