A man has pleaded guilty in British court to charges connected to a bomb threat, as well as harassing calls and emails, made to La Jolla Country Day School.
William John Cooper, 39, admitted to three counts of harassment and one count of violating a restraining order, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s office.
His sentencing in the United Kingdom is scheduled for Sept. 1.
Prosecutors say Cooper is responsible for shutting down the La Jolla school’s campus in February when he phoned in the bomb threat.
Officials say Cooper also sent a series of harassing emails and calls to the school, though details about their content have not been released.
Because the suspect was living in England when the bomb threat occurred, the San Diego DA and school police had to work with U.K. agencies to investigate the case.
San Diego law enforcement issued an arrest warrant for Cooper in May, and the U.K.’s Hampshire Constabulary took him into custody on June 26 at his Hampshire home. During the arrest, officials seized his computers and his phone.
Local
Although he has pleaded guilty in the U.K., Cooper could still face charges in San Diego County if he ever returns. However, the DA does not plan to extradite him unless he is already on U.S. soil.
La Jolla Country Day is a private, college preparatory school with about 1,200 students, ages 3 through grade 12.