As details are still unfolding concerning the bomb threat and subsequent explosive found at Warren Central Junior High School, questions loom about what could happen to those who took part in planting the device.

District Attorney Ricky Smith Jr. said there are statutes on the books that make it unlawful to possess explosive devices, but added he couldn’t comment on the ongoing investigation concerning the explosive at Warren Central Junior High School.

“The actual use of one or even threat of use would carry a possible life sentence,” he said. “Any crime that is committed by a juvenile that would carry a life sentence automatically falls within the jurisdiction of the circuit court.”

The youth court jurisdictional statute says the original jurisdiction is in the circuit court for any crime that caries a life sentence, Smith explained.

“There’s a possibility that anyone who possesses or uses an explosive device could be charged as an adult,” he said.

According to the Mississippi law Smith is referring to, life in prison is the maximum sentence and five years imprisonment in the minimum sentences.

As for the investigation concerning the explosive device extracted from Warren Central Junior High School, Smith said his job currently is to wait while law enforcement officers do their job.

“I’m being kept informed on what’s going on, but of course I always leave the initial work to the law enforcement officers and don’t bother them too much until they get to a point where they can sit down with me,” he said. “Until I have a chance to sit down with law enforcement and figure out what they’ve got and where they got it and those types of things, it’s hard for me to say anything about it.

Smith said he could not comment further on the ongoing investigation, adding he did not want to risk jeopardizing any potential case.