Crime & Safety
Final Court Update: No Jail Time in Bomb Threat Case
After psychiatric assessment found Ricco 'no threat', the former District 225 student was sentenced to two years supervision.
Once attorney Steven Weinberg demonstrated his client never posed a threat to local students, Ricco was given supervision with no jail time in exchange for a guilty plea to misdemeanor disorderly conduct Thursday in the Skokie branch of Cook County Criminal Court.
The former District 225 student was for making bomb threats against Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South High Schools. The 18-year-old Northbrook resident was charged with two separate felony counts of making false terrorist threats, felony disorderly conduct and illegal possession of fireworks.
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As the case progressed, the Cook County State’s Attorney office with evidence his client was not a threat to others. He also provided reports from Ricco’s psychiatrist, Dr. Peter Fink, to support his position.
“The extensive findings brought out by treatment of the defendant shows the defendant does not pose a threat,” Judge Larry Axelrood said as he sentenced Ricco to two years supervision. “As you go forward you need to be very mindful of the meaning of your words,” Axelrood cautioned.
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Assistant State’s Attorney Nick Tziavaras told Axelrood the two felony charges of making a false terrorist threat and misdemeanor possession of fireworks would be dropped. The disorderly conduct count was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Supervision means Ricco’s criminal record will disappear if he does not run afoul of the law in the next two years. He must continue his treatment with Dr. Fink, pay $450 in fines and costs and have no contact with the woman who received the .
“The exact right disposition was reached in this case,” Weinberg said. “I’m thankful it worked out the way it did.”
Had Ricco been convicted of all charges, he could have been sentenced to up to 15 years in jail.
After recounting how Ricco made threats to bomb Glenbrook North and South High Schools , Tziavaras explained Dr. Fink diagnosed Ricco with developmental disabilities. Ricco is not aware of how others perceive what he says, according to Tziavaras’s explanation of Dr. Fink’s findings.
“The defendant lacks the ability to understand his behavior as it is seen by others,” Tziavaras said. “It was (nothing but) a string of bravado. There was no intent to attempt any action of violence.”
