Matthew R. Klinger, 18, was charged Wednesday night with sending a bomb threat message via computer to the Mount Nittany Middle School last week.

Klinger was arrested and arraigned yesterday and is charged with unlawful use of computer, terrorisitic threats and harassment by communications.

According to the police report, a bomb threat message was found on the printer in the main office of the school last Friday afternoon. The message indicated bombs would go off at the middle school and the State College High School North building on Monday, Dec. 4.

Wednesday, police conducted interviews and found that several people witnessed Klinger allegedly typing out a threatening message in the computer lab of State College High School on Dec. 1. Witnesses said Klinger changed the settings on the computer before the message was printed.

School attendance was low on Monday as a result of the threat, according to the report.

Superintendent for the State College School District Patricia Best said the school community is pleased with the arrest and the progress made by police.

"We're relieved that an individual has been identified and has brought unwelcome disruption and concern," Best said.

Throughout the day on Monday, the State College Police Department implemented safety measures and searched both the school buildings before classes started in the morning. Police were present at both the schools throughout the day.

Klinger was also arrested and arraigned on separate charges of forgery, criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property. Klinger was charged with stealing two checks from a victim's personal checkbook. He wrote out one of the checks to himself in the amount of $683 and cashed it an area bank. He purchased $354 worth of merchandise with the other check.

Klinger's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13. District Attorney Ray Gricar said Klinger could be facing incarceration.

On Wednesday, the same day as Klinger's arrest, a staff member at the middle school found another bomb threat in the girl's bathroom. The threat was hand written and threatened that one bomb would go off sometime today.

Sgt. Dana Leonard said although police intend on taking safety precautions, this threat is different in nature compared to the past bomb threats the school has received.

"Of all these threats, this most recent one lacked specific information and was the least credible," Leonard said.

This is the fourth bomb threat in three weeks that the district has received. Only the one that was found on Dec. 1 has produced a suspect. None of the threats resulted in bombings.

If anyone has information regarding any of the threats, please contact the State College Police Department at 234-7150 or the school administrators at 466-5135 or 231-1111.