A southern Utah teen who tried to ignite an explosive device at Pine View High School was sentenced to time behind bars and probation.
Martin Farnsworth, 17, pleaded guilty in adult court in March to attempting to use an incendiary device to injure someone. The case was initially filed in the juvenile court, but he struck a plea deal after the case was moved to the adult system.
On Wednesday, Farnsworth was sentenced 415 days in a juvenile detention center and 48 months probation, according to his attorney.
Farnsworth was given credit for the time he has already spent in custody, defense attorney Edward Flint said, so he was released Wednesday after the sentencing.
But Flint said Farnsworth will be on a strict probation, which includes an ankle monitor for 90 days, a curfew, required therapy and doctor appointments to treat depression and autism. He is also required to finish high school, and a judge ordered that Farnsworth could not access the internet for the next six months. If he does not complete probation, he could be sent to the adult prison for a five-year-to-life term.
Farnsworth admitted in plea agreement documents that he placed a backpack with a homemade explosive in it against a school vending machine March 5, 2018. He then opened the pack, lit the fuse and walked away. The school was evacuated after students noticed the smoke. But Farnsworth’s device never detonated — the fuse smoldered out. No one was hurt.
Investigators later found a device made from a metal soup can, explosive powder, BB shots and shot gun shells.
When police later asked Farnsworth if he was trying to hurt anyone, he replied, "Kind of a little bit."
"If someone got hurt," he said, "I probably wouldn't care."
Farnsworth also admitted to raising an ISIS flag at Hurricane High School in place of an American flag and spray painted “ISIS is comi” across 25 feet of an exterior wall. He admitted to allegations in juvenile court in that case, according to The St. George Spectrum, and was ordered to probation.
The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not identify youth accused of crimes, unless their case is moved to the adult system.
