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Teen Charged With Making Terrorist Threats Against Fellow Students

SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — Authorities asked for the public's help to find a Newbury Park man charged with making terrorist threats against fellow students at a Rancho Cucamonga trade school.

Albert Maida, 18, was charged Thursday with two counts of terrorist threats, two counts of stalking and a count of falsely reporting a bomb, all felonies. If convicted as charged, he faces four years and four months in prison, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.

The Universal Technical Institute in Rancho Cucamonga called police on June 13, reporting that Maida made threats to several students over the course of several weeks. The school's officials suspended him and removed him from campus, while investigators looked into Maida's actions.

"In today's world, we have an obligation to take these types of threats seriously for the sake of not only the students and staff at UTI, but for all citizens," District Attorney Mike Ramos said in a statement. "This type of behavior cannot and will not be tolerated."

Maida was arrested on June 17 and his home in Ventura County was searched. Prosecutors say deputies seized several firearms from the home.

An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Maida, who was released on the same day after posting $50,000 bail, and the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office asked for the public's help in locating him.

Anyone with information about Maida's whereabouts can contact Sgt. Paul Schaefer at (909) 477-2883.

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