By: Yuri Smishkewych | Published March 31, 2016
Kean graduate Kayla-Simone McKelvey, who allegedly posted numerous Twitter threats against Kean students in November, must now wait until April 8 to see if she will be admitted into a probationary program.
At a hearing on March 23 at the Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth, Judge William Daniel told McKelvey’s lawyer, Thomas Ashley, that he has until March 30 to file a formal appeal after McKelvey was denied entry to the Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program earlier this month.
According to the Union County PTI office, if the PTI appeal is denied, the case is heard before a Grand Jury who will decide whether or not to indict McKelvey.
McKelvey was charged with creating a false public alarm, a third-degree criminal offense, two weeks after the online threats were made. She entered a not guilty plea at her first hearing on December 14 and later applied for the PTI probation program in January.
At a hearing earlier this month, Union County Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Barnes denied McKelvey’s request to be admitted into PTI and recommended a plea offer that included six-month jail term and restitution costs if McKelvey pleaded guilty, according to NJ Advanced Media.
Yuri Smishkewych may be reached at ysmishke@kean.edu.
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