Norwin student charged with making threat against school district

An 18-year-old Norwin student is accused of using computer software at his home Thursday to threaten an attack on the district before heading to work at a nearby home improvement store, police said.

Nolan R. Kugler, who lives in North Huntingdon, initially denied making the threat when questioned by township police and federal investigators but later admitted making the call, according to court documents.

Kugler attempted to conceal his identity in the call by using a special computer software application via the state’s Safe2Say Something reporting system, Detective Thomas Harris reported. The system is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office that enables people to confidentially report potential incidents of violence before they happen.

Kugler could not be reached for comment. He did not have an attorney listed in court documents.

The criminal complaint details the call that came in at 7:58 a.m.

“Today, when I went into Busy Beaver in Irwin I heard a conversation between two of the boys who work there … one of them with the name tag that said Nolan … talking about a plan to attack Norwin High School today at 1 p.m.,” the caller stated. “I heard Nolan say he had homemade explosives in his car.”

Police immediately responded to the Busy Beaver location in Norwin Hills Shopping Center, where Kugler was working, as the district moved to a modified lockdown status for several hours.

Kugler denied having any explosives in his vehicle, a 2014 white Jeep SUV that was parked outside. He also denied making the threat, Harris said.

He was taken to the police station for further questioning. Police along with agents from the Attorney General’s Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives office in Pittsburgh acquired a warrant to check Kugler’s vehicle and home.

No explosive devices were located during the searches, which included using specialized explosive-sniffing dogs, according to court documents.

At the police station, Kugler eventually admitted making the call before going to work.

State agents verified Kugler used the software application on his computer to make the threat.

The district did not release specific details of the threat but ended the lockdown about 1:15 p.m.

In a modified lockdown, the district isolates students and staff inside the school. No one is permitted to enter or leave the buildings. Outside events, field trips or outside activities — including recess — are prohibited, unless cleared by the administration.

In a written release Friday afternoon, Norwin Superintendent Jeffrey Taylor credited police and assisting agencies with their quick response to the incident. Taylor disclosed that specialized, explosive-sniffing dogs also checked inside the school and vehicles in the school parking lots during the probe and found nothing.

“The district takes all threats to the safety and security of our students and employees seriously until an incident is deemed not credible. We also try, to the best of our abilities, to communicate as quickly as possible with our employees and families with the safety of everyone in mind,” Taylor said.

Taylor did not disclose Kugler’s student status as a result of his arrest.

However, according to Norwin’s regulations on “Student Rights, Responsibilities and Discipline” posted on the district’s website, in addition to criminal proceedings, Kugler might face suspension or expulsion.

“Using the internet for improper communication, to make threats against any individual, the district or any district facility shall be prohibited, even if such communication arises from a home-based computer. Off-campus activities on the internet which create a threat of harm or serve to create a material and substantial disruption to the school program shall not be permitted,” the policy states.

Kugler was arraigned Thursday on felony charges of making a threat to use a weapon of mass destruction and making terroristic threats. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled March 9.

According to online documents, Kugler has no prior criminal record in Pennsylvania.