A Newton County Sheriff’s Office investigation has discovered that the bomb threat called into Porterdale Elementary School on Aug. 14 was a pre-recorded threat.

According to NCSO Capt. Keith Crum a school employee answered the phone at approximately 10 a.m. and heard a “pre-recorded bomb threat” message.

NCSO’s Criminal Investigation Division then received information from other law enforcement agencies that “pre-recorded bomb threats” were received at 16 different schools in three different states. Some of the calls occurred during the same week in August.

“No explosive devises have been found,” Crum said.

Investigators have also found similar bomb threats made around the nation throughout the past year, some as far as Alaska, according to Crum. Federal Law Enforcement Agencies are aware of the incidents.

Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown said in a release that if probable cause is developed, the person responsible for the call will be charged with Terroristic Threats and False Public Alarm. He warns that bomb threats are not harmless pranks or juvenile mischief, they are criminal acts.