A Bushland ISD student faces a third-degree felony charge after authorities said the student admitted posting a threatening “Cat in the Hat” video as a joke, as Texas schools warn parents that similar posts can trigger criminal investigations.
The Potter County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after receiving an August 31 report of a potential threat directed at multiple juveniles. Investigators identified the student as the suspected owner of the account after conducting several interviews, ABC 7 Amarillo reported, citing Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas (R).
The sheriff’s office said the student admitted posting the video and told investigators the post was a joke. Authorities charged the student with making a terroristic threat, a third-degree felony, according to the report.
Texas districts warn parents
The broader trend uses AI-generated or digitally altered images and videos of a menacing version of Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat character near homes, neighborhoods and schools. Some posts pair the images with vague or direct threats aimed at students or specific communities, FOX 26 Houston reported.
Robstown ISD said its police department had found no credible threat to the district from a circulating video. Police Chief Filiberto Tagle contacted the FBI, and district police continued working with federal and local law enforcement.
District officials warned that police will investigate threatening posts that cause fear or alarm. Participants can face school discipline, criminal charges and arrest, even when they intended the post as a prank. “See it. Don’t share it. Report it,” the district said.
Canutillo ISD also said it had no credible or specific threat to any campus or the surrounding community.
State and federal law enforcement described the trend to the district as an apparent hoax involving AI-generated images and videos and found no evidence that the depicted activity was occurring, according to a district statement published by KVIA.
“Threats are not jokes or harmless pranks,” Canutillo ISD said.
North Texas threats brought arrests before
In September 2024, police charged four Lewisville ISD middle school students with making terroristic threats after investigators said they copied false social media posts in an effort to avoid school, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
Both districts urged parents to speak with their children about the consequences of creating or sharing threats and to report concerning posts instead of circulating them.
Provided by Dallas Express
